单词 | to let on |
释义 | > as lemmasto let on to let on 1. intransitive. To reveal, divulge, disclose, or betray a fact by word or look. Const. to (a person); often with subordinate clause. Originally dialect and U.S.Apparently an absolute use of the phrase in quot. 1637. ΘΚΠ society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)] cough1393 wrayc1425 to break a secreta1450 to tell allc1450 to bring (also put) to light1526 to let on1725 to open up1884 to come out of the closet1971 to come out1976 1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1664) xxviii. 67 He..lets a poor soul stand still & knock, & never let it on him that He heareth.] 1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd ii. iii Let nae on what's past 'Tween you and me. 1795 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 795 I never loot on that I kend it, or car'd. 1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott VI. iii. 106 I [sc. Scott] was more taken aback with Wright's epistle than I cared to let on. 1848 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 1st Ser. vii. 88 I don't make no insinooations, I jest let on I smell a rat. 1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xiv Don't go planting in the gully, or some one'll think you're wanted and let on to the police. 1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xix. 225 I..was more wise than to let on. 1914 C. Mackenzie Sinister St. II. iv. ii. 862 You'd better not let on you know he used to have a shop of his own. 1923 T. E. Lawrence Let. 5 Feb. (1938) 399 My private opinion is that she's read it, and he hasn't: and can't: but is much afraid to shock her by letting on. 1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) xi. 173 Maybe Orry didn't like to let on he'd made a mistake in the first place. 1974 M. Ingate Sound of Weir viii. 62 ‘Would you say that he is very feeble?’ ‘Stronger than he lets on if you ask me. He don't need t' walk like that.’ 2. To pretend. Originally dialect and U.S. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > pretend, dissemble [verb (intransitive)] letc1000 faitc1330 counterfeitc1374 dissimulec1374 feignc1400 showc1405 supposea1450 fare1483 simule?a1500 dissemble1523 pretend1526 frame1545 cloakc1572 jouk1573 pretent1582 disguisea1586 devise1600 semble1603 coin1607 insimulate1623 fox1646 sham1787 dissimulate1796 gammon1819 to let on1822 simulate1823 possum1832 simulacrize1845 to put on an act1929 to put on (also up) a show1937 prat1967 1822 J. Galt Provost xlvii. 354 The Provost maun ken nothing about it, or let on that he does na ken. 1826 A. N. Royall Sketches Hist., Life, & Manners U.S. 58 When they [in W. Va.] would say pretence, they say lettinon... ‘Polly is not mad, she is only lettinon.’ 1828 Yankee (Portland, Maine) 23 Apr. 132/3 [In the South] to let on signifies to make believe. 1846 W. Cross Disruption v. 48 She..had the sense to..let on to be just as ill pleased as her mistress. 1875 ‘M. Twain’ Old Times Mississippi vii, in Atlantic Monthly Aug. 195/2 If I wanted to..‘let on’ to prove what had occurred in the remote past..what an opportunity is here! 1897 R. M. Stuart Simpkinsville 31 He let on he didn't know him. 1929 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 28 Mar. 1/1 We..found out that Mr. Van let on to take the proposal seriously. 1961 John o' London's 12 Jan. 41/4 In the positive it [sc. let on] means ‘pretend’ or ‘simulate’ as in ‘He let on to be angry’. < as lemmas |
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