live and let live en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Possibly a calque of Dutch leven en laten leven, which was mentioned by Gerard de Malynes in a 1622 book about trade law (in the then-current spelling leuen ende laeten leuen).
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.
Our Europe policy is simple: live and let live, flourish and let flourish. That is a modern and mature approach.
2004 April 22, Michael Ancram, “If the British people vote no, Europe will thank them”, in guardian.co.uk, retrieved 14 Jun 2008:‘Live and let live’ is my motto: let me alone and I'll let you alone.
1903, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 36, in Hetty Wesley:"Hout, neighbour," said Mrs. Howden, "we suld live and let live—we hae been young oursells, and we are no aye to judge the warst when lads and lasses forgather."
1818, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 23, in The Heart of Mid-Lothian:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lived and let live | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| lived and let live | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| living and letting live | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| lives and lets live | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (21)
ro trăiește și lasă să trăiască (be tolerant) · hu élni és élni hagyni (be tolerant) · sk žiť a nechať žiť (be tolerant) · he חֲיֵה וְתֵן לִחְיוֹת (be tolerant) · pt viver e deixar viver (be tolerant) · it vivi e lascia vivere (be tolerant) · sv lev och låt leva (be tolerant) · ayl عيش وخلي الناس تعيش (be tolerant) · nl leven en laten leven (be tolerant) · de leben und leben lassen (be tolerant) · tr yaşa ve yaşat (be tolerant) · cs žít a nechat žít (be tolerant) · es vivir y dejar vivir (be tolerant) · cmn 己立立人，己達達人 /己立立人 (be tolerant) · no lev og la leve (be tolerant) · cmn 己达达人 (be tolerant) · ta வாழு, வாழ விடு (be tolerant) · ru сам живи́ и други́м жить не меша́й (be tolerant) · ru живи́ и дай жить други́м (be tolerant) · fr vivre et laisser vivre (be tolerant) · fi elää ja antaa toistenkin elää (be tolerant)