let off

let off
{v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie accidentally let off his father's shotgun and made a hole in the wall./ Syn.: GO OFF, LET LOOSE(2). 2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were caught smoking in school but the principal let them off with a warning./ * /Mary's mother said that she would let Mary off from drying the supper dishes./ * /The factory closed for a month in the summer and let the workers off./ Compare: LET GO. 3. or {informal}[let off the hook] To miss a chance to defeat or score against, especially in sports or games. * /We almost scored a touchdown in the first play against Tech but we let them off the hook by fumbling the ball./ * /The boxer let his opponent off the hook many times./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Let-off — (l[e^]t [o^]f ; 115), n. (Mach.) A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • let off — [v] make not subject to punishment or action abandon, absolve, discharge, dispense, drop, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, let go, pardon, privilege from, release, relieve, remove, spare; concepts 50,83,88,317 Ant. blame, incarcerate, punish …   New thesaurus

  • let off — ► let off 1) cause (a gun, firework, or bomb) to fire or explode. 2) refrain from punishing. 3) excuse (someone) from a task or obligation. Main Entry: ↑let …   English terms dictionary

  • let off — index absolve, acquit, acquitted, cast (throw), clear, excuse, palliate (excuse) …   Law dictionary

  • let-off — ► NOUN informal ▪ an instance of unexpectedly escaping or avoiding something …   English terms dictionary

  • let off — verb grant exemption or release to Please excuse me from this class • Syn: ↑excuse, ↑relieve, ↑exempt • Derivationally related forms: ↑excuse (for: ↑excuse) …   Useful english dictionary

  • let off — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms let off : present tense I/you/we/they let off he/she/it lets off present participle letting off past tense let off past participle let off 1) let someone off something British to allow someone not to do… …   English dictionary

  • let off — {v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie accidentally let off his father s shotgun and made a hole in the wall./ Syn.: GO OFF, LET LOOSE(2). 2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • let\ off — v 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. Willie accidentally let off his father s shotgun and made a hole in the wall. Syn.: go off, let loose(2) 2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. Two boys were caught… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • let-off — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun ( s) Etymology: let off 1. : an act or instance of letting off spend the rest of his life in gaol, and a damned lucky let off it is for him Ngaio Marsh specifically : neglect of a chance to dismiss or score against an opponent …   Useful english dictionary

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