Hey there, language explorers! Have you ever stumbled upon a sentence in English and thought, “Wait a minute, I know these words, but why does this sentence seem strange?” The mystery can often be traced back to magical things we call phrasal verbs! Today, we’ll focus on phrasal verbs that include the word LET. These tiny clusters of words carry more meaning than meets the eye and add that extra zest to your English conversations. They’re widely used in everyday language, making your English sound more fluent and natural. So, are you ready to unravel the mysteries of LET phrasal verbs?
Now, let’s take a close look at some common phrasal verbs with LET, what they mean, and how we use them!
1. Let down: Firstly, it can mean to disappoint someone.
Example: I felt so bad when I let my team down by missing the meeting.
Secondly, it can refer to lowering something.
Example: He let down the basket using a long rope.
2. Let in: to allow someone to enter.
Example: Can you let the cat in? It’s cold outside.
It can also mean to concede a goal in sports.
Example: The goalkeeper was disappointed to let in two goals.
3. Let off: Primarily, it refers to not punishing someone.
Example: Even though he was speeding, the officer let him off with a warning.
It can also mean to cause an explosion, often referring to fireworks.
Example: They let off some fireworks to celebrate the festival.
4. Let on: to reveal a secret.
Example: She didn’t let on about the surprise party.
It can also mean to pretend something.
Example: He let on that he didn’t know about the incident, but he knew all along.
5. Let out: to release or to allow someone or something to leave.
Example: The school lets out at 3 PM.
It can also mean to make a piece of clothing wider or looser.
Example: My pants were too tight, so I took them to a tailor to be let out.
6. Let through: to allow someone or something to pass.
Example: The officer let the ambulance through the traffic.
It can also mean to concede a goal in sports.
Example: The goalkeeper let through another goal in the final minutes.
7. Let up: to stop or lessen.
Example: The rain let up just in time for our picnic.
It can also mean to stop attacking or criticizing someone.
Example: His older brother wouldn’t let up about his mistake.
8. Let go: First, this refers to releasing something or someone.
Example: He had to let go of the rope.
Second, it can mean to dismiss or fire someone from a job.
Example: Due to budget cuts, the company had to let go some employees.
9. Let alone: not even considering something because the first part is not possible.
Example: I can’t even run a mile, let alone a marathon.
10. Let bygones be bygones: to forget about past disagreements or differences.
Example: After their argument, they decided to let bygones be bygones and remain friends.
As we wrap up, it’s important to remember that mastering LET phrasal verbs (or any phrasal verbs) is all about practice. Don’t worry about memorizing all of them at once, but try to incorporate them into your everyday English. They not only enrich your language but also make you sound more like a native speaker. Keep exploring, keep practicing, and before you know it, you’ll have a firm grasp on these fun phrases!