let off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Not punish someone, despite a wrongdoing
Why “off”? Something had a hold on you — a punishment, a fear, a restriction. The hold breaks, and you slip away free.
“The judge let him off with a warning.”
“The teacher let Sara off this time.”
Don't confuse with
Let off means not punish someone, despite a wrongdoing. Let on means reveal a secret.
Test yourself
“The judge let him off with a warning.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
let on
A contrast learners often mix up
Reveal a secret
cast off
Same off pattern: escape
Get rid of something that has been holding you back
get off
Same off pattern: escape
Leave a bus, train or plane; Finish work for the day; Escape punishment
throw off
Same off pattern: escape
Successfully escape from something restricting
let down
Same base verb: let
Disappoint someone by failing to keep a promise; Lower something carefully; Deflate a tyre or balloon by releasing air
let in
Same base verb: let
Allow someone to enter
let out
Same base verb: let
Allow someone or something to leave
let up
Same base verb: let
Become less intense or stop
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