let up

[let up] {v.}, {informal}

1. To become less, weaker, or quiet; become slower or stop.

* /It's raining as hard as ever. It's not letting up at all./

* /It snowed for three days before it let up and we could go outdoors./

2. To do less or go slower or stop; relax; stop working or working hard.

* /Grandfather has been working all his life. When is he going to let up?/

* /Let up for a minute. You can't work hard all day./

* /Jim ran all the way home without letting up once./

Compare: SLOW DOWN.

Contrast: BEAR DOWN.

3. To become easier, kinder, or less strict. — Usually used with "on".

* /Let up on Jane. She is sick./

Syn.: EASE UP.

4. or [change up] To pitch a ball at less than full speed in baseball. — Usually used with "on".

* /John pitched a ball that was very fast and the batter missed it. Then he let up on the next pitch and the batter was badly fooled./

Tags:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms


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