let loose

present singular third person lets loose · participle present letting loose

1. idiomatictransitiveTo free; to release from restraint.

   Near-synonyms: loose (verb), unleash, set loose; let rip

   5 more examples

   I can imagine the man . . . prepared to oppress rival firms, overthrow inconvenient monarchs, and let loose the dogs of war.

   1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 2, in A Footnote to History

   May God's curse rest upon the arrogant men and the unholy ambitions which let loose this horror upon humanity!

   1916, Arthur Conan Doyle, “A Glimpse of the French Line”, in A Visit to Three Fronts

   When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Mardy Fish walloped the final shot of the match for a winner, and he let loose a jubilant roar of his own.

   2010 March 27, “Tennis: Venus wins”, in USA Today, retrieved 22 Jul 2011

   After an initial two weeks on the Hampton Court line, they were let loose on peak and off-peak services to Shepperton and Chessington for a month, and then on Charing Cross/Cannon Street services to Bromley North, Sevenoaks via Orpington, and to Dartford via Bexleyheath and Sidcup.

   2023 February 22, Howard Johnston, “Southern '313s': is the end now in sight?”, in RAIL, number 977, page 41

   Synonyms: loose, unleash, set loose, let rip

2. idiomaticintransitivesometimesTo shout, make a loud sound, or perform a sudden, vehement action; to behave in a raucous, frenzied manner.

   Near-synonyms: explode, go ape, holler, vociferate, let rip

   3 more examples

   He set his teeth, and let loose with a fury before which nothing could stand; and Maurice was forced back step by step until he was almost up with the wall.

   1901, Harold MacGrath, chapter 17, in The Puppet Crown

   Thus encouraged, the Tijuana Brass let loose with its patented version of The Lonely Bull.

   1965 November 12, “Jazz: The Newest Sound”, in Time

   As if a giant ape weren't enough to get Jack Black going in King Kong, the actor says he let loose one time while making the film.

   2005 December 27, “Report: Jack Black recalls 'lost weekend'”, in USA Today, retrieved 22 Jul 2011

   Synonyms: explode, go ape, holler, vociferate, let rip

3. euphemisticTo break wind.

   Sorry for letting loose.

   1 more example

   Near-synonyms: let rip; see also Thesaurus:flatulate

   Synonyms: let rip, badger, blow off, break ass, break wind, bust ass, crepitate, curmur