What does it mean word for word?
Literally, laisse tomber means 'let fall'. It is composed of the verb laisser (to let/leave) and the infinitive tomber (to fall).
Which one should you use?
You might use Oublie ça to specifically mean 'Forget it'. If you want to tell someone to 'leave me alone' or 'give me a break', you would say Fiche-moi la paix.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Laisse tomber is an informal way to tell someone to drop a subject or stop worrying about something. In a formal situation, you can use Laissez cela to mean 'Leave that' or 'Leave it'. There is also a slang version, laisse béton, which is used in very casual settings to mean 'forget it' or 'drop it'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the variation Laisse donc ça tranquille is used to mean 'Leave it alone' or 'Forget about it'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 'laisse tomber' changes to laissez tomber when addressing someone formally or when addressing a group of people.
Did you know?
- The term laisse béton is actually a linguistic pun. It uses 'béton' solely because it rhymes with 'tomber', making it a piece of rhythmic street slang rather than a logical metaphor.
- The word tomber in laisse tomber once meant 'to dance' or 'to do somersaults' in Old French. This gives the phrase a subtle, playful history of letting something spin or tumble away.
- In a formal setting, using laisse tomber can sound slightly dismissive or even rude. To remain polite while asking someone to drop a subject, one should opt for more structured phrases like ne parlons plus de cela.
Examples in context
- Laisse tomber !Leave it.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase laisse tomber.Tatoeba #1973430 by sacredceltic, translation #1954272 by CK
- Laisse tomber, je ne peux pas y aller ce soir.Forget it, I can't go tonight.
- Laisse tomber, ce n'est pas important.Leave it, it is not important.
- Oh, laisse tomber, j'ai oublié.Oh, leave it, I forgot.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are talking about a small mistake in a report.
- ChloéJe dois corriger cette erreur dans le rapport.I must correct this error in the report.
- NathanLaisse tomber, personne ne le remarquera.Leave it, nobody will notice it.
- ChloéTu es sûr, Nathan ?Are you sure, Nathan?
- NathanOui, ne t'en fais pas.Yes, don't worry about it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tomber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
