Phrase guide

let someone down gently

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To reject or refuse someone in a way that avoids causing hurt or disappointment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 給某人留面子 /给某人留面子 (gěi mǒurén liú miànzi) — reject someone in a way that avoids causing hurt
  • Chinese Mandarin: 婉轉地告訴 /婉转地告诉 (wǎnzhuǎn de gàosù) — reject someone in a way that avoids causing hurt
  • Finnish: torjua ystävällisesti — reject someone in a way that avoids causing hurt
  • French: refuser gentiment — reject someone in a way that avoids causing hurt
  • Portuguese: recusar gentilmente — reject someone in a way that avoids causing hurt