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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

let loose en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, transitive) To free; to release from restraint.
    • After an initial two weeks on the Hampton Court line, they were let loose on peak and off-peak services to Shepperton and Chessington for a month, and then on Charing Cross/Cannon Street services to Bromley North, Sevenoaks via Orpington, and to Dartford via Bexleyheath and Sidcup. 2023 February 22, Howard Johnston, “Southern '313s': is the end now in sight?”, in RAIL, number 977, page 41:
    • Near-synonyms: loose (verb), unleash, set loose; let rip
    • Mardy Fish walloped the final shot of the match for a winner, and he let loose a jubilant roar of his own. 2010 March 27, “Tennis: Venus wins”, in USA Today, retrieved 22 Jul 2011:
    • I can imagine the man . . . prepared to oppress rival firms, overthrow inconvenient monarchs, and let loose the dogs of war. 1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 2, in A Footnote to History:
    • May God's curse rest upon the arrogant men and the unholy ambitions which let loose this horror upon humanity! 1916, Arthur Conan Doyle, “A Glimpse of the French Line”, in A Visit to Three Fronts:
    • When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
  2. (followed by with or on, idiomatic, intransitive, sometimes) To shout, make a loud sound, or perform a sudden, vehement action; to behave in a raucous, frenzied manner.
    • Near-synonyms: explode, go ape, holler, vociferate, let rip
    • He set his teeth, and let loose with a fury before which nothing could stand; and Maurice was forced back step by step until he was almost up with the wall. 1901, Harold MacGrath, chapter 17, in The Puppet Crown:
    • Thus encouraged, the Tijuana Brass let loose with its patented version of The Lonely Bull. 1965 November 12, “Jazz: The Newest Sound”, in Time:
    • As if a giant ape weren't enough to get Jack Black going in King Kong, the actor says he let loose one time while making the film. 2005 December 27, “Report: Jack Black recalls 'lost weekend'”, in USA Today, retrieved 22 Jul 2011:
  3. (euphemistic) To break wind.
    • Near-synonyms: let rip; see also Thesaurus:flatulate
    • Sorry for letting loose.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lets loose Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
let loose Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
let loose Tense=Past lexicographic
letting loose Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

let rip · rip one · curmur · pass wind · bust ass · guff · holler · toot · let one rip · let rip · cut one loose · let one go · pump · badger · let rip · loose · let fluffy off the chain · squeeze one out · grunt · step on a frog · cut one · fart · rip ass · let rip · blow off · pass gas · drop a bomb · explode · let one loose · break ass · flatulate · unleash · go ape · break wind · crepitate · cut the cheese · step on a duck · let loose · set loose · drop one's guts · trump · poop · poot · vociferate

Translations (28)

es distender (perform a sudden, vehement action) · ru отпусти́ть (release from restraint) · fi päästää irti (release from restraint) · pl luzować (perform a sudden, vehement action) · tr salmak (release from restraint) · ru вы́пустить (release from restraint) · es soltar rienda (perform a sudden, vehement action) · pl poluzować (perform a sudden, vehement action) · ru отпуска́ть (release from restraint) · pl spuścić ze smyczy (release from restraint) · fi vapauttaa (release from restraint) · pl spuszczać ze smyczy (release from restraint) · es dar rienda suelta (perform a sudden, vehement action) · sv släppa lös (release from restraint) · ja 切り放す (release from restraint) · gd leig mu sgaoil (release from restraint) · pl poluzowywać (perform a sudden, vehement action) · fr se déchaîner (perform a sudden, vehement action) · ru выпуска́ть (release from restraint) · cmn 放開 /放开 (release from restraint) · es soltar (release from restraint) · fr lâcher (release from restraint) · ja 放す (release from restraint) · tr serbest bırakmak (release from restraint) · de loslassen (release from restraint) · hu szabadjára ereszt (release from restraint) · sv släppa (release from restraint) · fi irrottaa (release from restraint)