Unit 22: Let

Target Vocabulary

Here are some common uses of let with simple explanations and examples:

  • let sb down / let sth down – to disappoint someone.
    Example: I promised to help her and I didn’t. I let her down.
  • let up – when something (like rain) stops or becomes less strong.
    Example: The rain let up in the afternoon.
  • let up on sb or sth – to be less strict or stop being angry.
    Example: The teacher didn’t let up on the students.
  • let sb in on sth – to share a secret or information.
    Example: I let her in on my plan.
  • let on – to tell a secret.
    Example: Don’t let on that we are leaving.
  • let sb out – to allow someone to leave.
    Example: The teacher let the students out early.
  • let sth out – to release something (air, sound, information).
    Example: He let out a loud scream.
  • let oneself in for – to do something without knowing the difficulty.
    Example: He let himself in for a hard job.
  • let sth off – to make something explode or fire (e.g., fireworks, bomb).
    Example: We let off fireworks at the party.
  • let sb off with sth – to punish someone lightly.
    Example: The teacher let him off with a warning.
Teacher letting students out
A friendly teacher letting children leave the classroom, smiling and happy, simple cartoon style, classroom with windows, light mood, A1-A2 vocabulary illustration

Grammar & Usage Tips

Tip 1: let + object + verb (bare infinitive) is common.

Example: I let him go home early.

Tip 2: Some phrasal verbs change meaning depending on context. Check examples carefully.

Tip 3: For secrets: let sb in on sth or let on. Be careful: let on often appears in negative or advice sentences.

Worked Examples

Example 1

Maria was late to help her friend. She promised but didn’t come.

Answer: Maria let her friend down.

Example 2

The wind stopped and the rain became light in the evening.

Answer: The rain let up in the evening.

Example 3

We want to share our plan with Tom.

Answer: We let Tom in on our plan.