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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Let Down Phrasal Verb Meaning and Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：disappoint (Let down)

Let down 🔊

/ˌlet ˈdaʊn/

phr.v.

To disappoint someone by not doing what you promised or not reaching their expectations.

A sad person holding a deflated balloon, feeling let down by a broken promise

disappoint 🔊

➕

/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/

phr.v.

To fail to meet someone's expectations or break a promise, causing them to feel let down.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'let' (allow) and 'down' (lower), used idiomatically.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine someone lowering a rope (let down) but it breaks, causing disappointment.

📖 Example

I promised to help my sister study for her exam, but I was too busy with work and let her down. 🔊 I promised to help my sister study for her exam, but I was too busy with work and disappointed her.

🔗 Collocations

let someone down – to disappoint someone

let down expectations – to fail to meet expectations

feel let down – to feel disappointed

🔄 Synonyms

disappoint (v.) – To fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of someone.

fail (v.) – To neglect or be unable to do something expected.

🚫 Antonyms

satisfy (v.) – To meet the expectations or desires of someone.

fulfill (v.) – To achieve or realize something desired.

🌱 Derivatives

letdown (n.) – A disappointment or a feeling of being let down.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Old English 'lætan' and 'dūne', the phrase 'let down' evolved to mean 'lower' physically, and later metaphorically to disappoint. Common in everyday English.

Meaning 2：lower (Let down)

Let down 🔊

/ˌlet ˈdaʊn/

phr.v.

To lower something or someone gently, often using a rope or your hands.

lower 🔊

➕

/ˈloʊər/

phr.v.

To move something or someone downward gently, often using a rope or hands.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The climber carefully let down the rope so his partner could climb up. 🔊 The climber carefully lowered the rope so his partner could climb up.

🔗 Collocations

let down the rope – to lower the rope

let down gently – to lower carefully and softly

let down a ladder – to lower a ladder

🔄 Synonyms

lower (v.) – To move something to a lower position.

drop (v.) – To let something fall downward.

descend (v.) – To move downward.

🚫 Antonyms

raise (v.) – To move something to a higher position.

lift (v.) – To raise something upward.