let out

Verb

let out (third-person singular simple present lets out, present participle letting out, simple past and past participle let out)

1. (transitive) To release.
   • The students were let out of school early.
   • If you go into the aviary, don't let out any of the birds!
2. (Canada, US, intransitive) Of a school: to finish for the day or term, allowing the pupils to go home.
   • We're gonna have practice tomorrow morning for an assembly we're giving on Thursday before school lets out for Easter.1999, Laura Beckham, A Bad Seed: And Other Stories, page 47
3. To allow to operate at higher speed by adjusting controls.
   • He let out the reins when they were a mile from the barn.
   • The engineer let out the throttle after the train crossed the bridge.
4. To rent out.
   • We let out the house and went on a two-year world trip.
5. To enlarge by adjusting one or more seams.
   • After the holidays he had to have his suits let out.

   Antonyms:

   take in

6. (informal) Of sound, to emit.
   • The dog let out a yelp.
   • For a moment Mr. Stink fell silent. Then he opened his mouth and let out the deepest darkest dirtiest burp.2009 October 29, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Mr Stink, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN
7. To disclose.
   • He accidentally let out the location for the meeting.
8. (transitive) To begin to tell a story.
9. (dated, slang, transitive) To lay off or fire someone (from a job).