leave alone

present singular third person leaves alone · participle present leaving alone · participle past left alone · past left alone

1. transitiveTo stop bothering (a person).

   I wish he'd leave me alone.

   3 more examples

   We left her alone until she calmed down.

   The Greeks leave transit passengers alone on the Svilengrad-Edirne-Pithion section; the Turkish examination is at Edirne. Pithion is a charming and sleepy little oasis in the middle of nowhere.

   1951 December, “Notes and News: Travel Through the Balkans”, in Railway Magazine, page 854

   After a week of conversing with the deceased through his thoughts, the subject became distressed, saying the voices were overwhelming. In every waking moment, his consciousness was bombarded by hundreds of voices that refused to leave him alone.

   2009 November 23, “Gateway of the Mind”, in Creepypasta, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2009

   Synonyms: let alone

2. transitiveTo desist or refrain from involvement with.

   It's safest to leave dangerous chemicals alone.