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Glite Dictionary
to let down gently

to let down gently

1 3.5
Tell someone bad news in a kind way
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : dejar caer suavemente
  • He tried to let her down gently after she interviewed for the position, praising her skills first.

Examples

  • The company decided to let down gently those applicants who were not selected by sending personalized letters.

  • When ending the relationship, Maria made sure to let him down gently to spare his feelings.

  • Tom let down gently his girlfriend after their date.

  • Can you let down gently the team about the project?

  • The manager decided to let down gently the team about the project's cancellation to avoid hurting their feelings.

  • When his friend didn't get the job, he tried to let down gently by emphasizing her other strengths.

  • It was tough to let down gently my friend after she hoped for the promotion, but honesty was necessary.

Synonyms

to let down
vsto let down gently
210 2.9

Make someone feel disappointed by not doing what you promised

focuses on kindly delivering bad news rather than causing disappointment by failure
to let someone down gently
vsto let down gently
3 4.3

To end a relationship or give bad news in a way that hurts less

covers gentle delivery of bad news in many situations, not only endings
to break it to someone
vsto let down gently
4.6

To tell someone bad news gently

emphasizes kindness to reduce the listener's distress rather than mere tact

Antonyms

to encourage
∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

How Gentle

to soften the blow
  • Informal
8 4.7
to let down gently
1 3.5
to let down
210 2.9
to disappoint
492 1.0

Surface Forms

let down gently infinitive
let down gently past
let down gently past participle
letting down gently present participle
lets down gently third person singular

Morphology

let + down + gently

The core phrasal verb 'let down' (meaning 'to disappoint' or 'reject') is not fully predictable from the literal meanings of 'let' (allow) and 'down' for a B1 learner because the particle use is idiomatic. The adverb 'gently' is transparent and clearly indicates manner, so the overall phrase 'let down gently' is partially inferable but relies on knowing the idiomatic phrasal verb.

Etymology

Let down gently comes from the picture of lowering someone carefully from a high place — to let them down gently so they do not fall or get hurt. So it now means to tell someone 'bad news' or say 'no' in a kind, careful way to avoid hurting their feelings.