let off

British  

verb

1. (also preposition) to allow to disembark or leave

2. to explode or fire (a bomb, gun, etc)

3. (also preposition) to excuse from (work or other responsibilities)

   I'll let you off for a week

4. to allow to get away without the expected punishment, work, etc

5. to let (accommodation) in portions

6. to release (liquid, air, etc)

7. See steam

8. to give (a light punishment) to someone

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let off Idioms  

1. Release by exploding; see blow off steam .

2. Allow to go free or escape; excuse from punishment. For example, They let her off from attending graduation , or The headmaster let him off with a reprimand . [Early 1800s] Also see off the hook .

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Example Sentences

The tech professional is a member of Jakarta's "Playing Community", a group that gathers after work every Friday to let off steam in ways not usually associated with grown-ups.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

He needed to let off a little steam.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Stellantis parking scofflaws today don’t receive a fine and are typically let off with a warning, employees say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

And Ireland were let off the hook when Lynagh's try was ruled out because of Tommaso Menoncello's forward pass to the Benetton wing.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

The hornbeam wand let off a blast like a gun, and a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end and through the open window into the watery sunlight.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling