Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to let it all hang out

to let it all hang out

7 8.2
To relax completely and show your true feelings without holding back
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : dejarse llevar
  • As the saying goes, I'm letting it all hang out.
  • just let it all hang out
  • gonna let it all hang out
  • really let it all hang out

I'm gonna gonna let it all hang out.

Examples

  • She felt free to let it all hang out and express her true feelings during the retreat.

  • Yeah, but it will be sort of the, like, let it all hang out, spiritually speaking, and tell you where we're at.

  • Baby, let it all hang out.

    Nancy Drew (2007)

  • Just let it all hang out.

    Blonde Heaven (1995)

  • But generally, I think it is good to let it all hang out there.

    Blog text (1)

  • I want to encourage you to let it all hang out.

    Blog text (32)

  • Let it all hang out.

    Couples Retreat (2009)

  • When writing a first draft, let it all hang out, according to Frances Lefkowitz.

    Blog text (19)

  • After a long week, I decided to let it all hang out and enjoy the party without worrying about anything.

  • At the beach, everyone was encouraged to let it all hang out and just have fun in the sun.

Synonyms

to let loose
vsto let it all hang out
  • Informal
12 3.9

Relax and enjoy yourself without worrying

is about personally relaxing fully and expressing oneself without restraint
to let one's hair down
vsto let it all hang out
  • Informal
8 5.6

Relax and enjoy yourself after being serious or busy

relaxes completely and expresses oneself without any inhibition

Antonyms

to hold back
108 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

to suppress
88 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

How Relaxed

to run wild
33 3.9
to let it all hang out
  • Informal
7 8.2
to let loose
  • Informal
12 3.9
to relax
∞ 1.0
at ease
106 1.7

Surface Forms

let it all hang out infinitive
let it all hang out past
let it all hang out past participle
letting it all hang out present participle
lets it all hang out third person singular

Morphology

let + it + all + hang + out

The element meanings ('let' = allow, 'all' = everything, 'hang out' = relax/spend time informally or literally ‘hang’ outside) give a plausible route to the intended sense — i.e. allow everything to be loose or relaxed — but the specific colloquial sense 'behave or express oneself without inhibition' is an idiomatic, pragmatic extension that is not fully predictable from the parts. A B1 learner who knows the words might guess a related idea, but would likely need exposure to settle on the exact meaning and register.

Etymology

Let it all hang out comes from the image of someone loosening tight clothes and letting their hair and clothes hang out freely. That's why it means 'to relax completely and be yourself'.