let down

verb

1. (also preposition) to lower

2. to fail to fulfil the expectations of (a person); disappoint

3. to undo, shorten, and resew (the hem) so as to lengthen (a dress, skirt, etc)

4. to untie (long hair that is bound up) and allow to fall loose

5. to deflate

   to let down a tyre

noun

1. a disappointment

2. the gliding descent of an aircraft in preparation for landing

3. the release of milk from the mammary glands following stimulation by the hormone oxytocin

Idioms and Phrases

Cause to descend, lower, as in They let down the sails . [Mid-1100s]

Also, let up . Slacken, abate, as in Sales are letting down in this quarter , or They didn't let up in their efforts until the end . The first term dates from the mid-1800s, the variant from the late 1700s.

See let someone down . Also see let one's hair down .

Example Sentences

“These are violent people, and if at any point we let down our guard, there is a serious risk of ongoing violence,” Deputy Assistant Atty.

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A Commons' committee report recently said children and families were being "let down by unacceptably long delays" in the family court system.

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Gabriel, however, sees his twin sister's inquest as a wake up call - for too long, he thinks society has let down those whose parents believe conspiracy theories.

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However, he also said he questioned Rowley on why it took journalists to expose this behaviour, which "let down" London irrespective of the commissioner's efforts.

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Sir Mark also said: "Much more needed to be done to tackle the individuals and cliques whose appalling behaviour continues to let down their colleagues and Londoners".

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