letting nature take its course

Verb

let nature take its course (third-person singular simple present lets nature take its course, present participle letting nature take its course, simple past and past participle let nature take its course)

1. (idiomatic) To permit events to proceed or a situation to develop without intervention or interference.
   • "Do you mean to put a secret-service operative aboard disguised as a deckhand?"
     "Huh! Skinner, you distress me. I'm going to put Matt Peasley aboard the Quickstep as second mate, and let Nature take its course."1916, Peter B. Kyne, chapter 27, in Cappy Ricks
2. (euphemistic, idiomatic) To allow a person or animal to die without medical or other attempts to forestall death.
   • I have slashed veins in my ankles and am pleasantly bleeding to death in this hot water. There is no greater kindness you can do me than to let nature take its course.1984, Piers Anthony, On A Pale Horse, →ISBN, page 145

   Synonyms:

   stand aside