What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb laisser (to leave/let) and the infinitive tomber (to fall), literally meaning 'leave to fall'.
Which one should you use?
You might encounter other phrases depending on your specific intent. For example, Oublie ça is an informal way to suggest letting go of a subject, matter or a past event and Lâche l'affaire is an informal expression that conveys a sense of dropping or giving up on an argument or situation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
laisse tomber is the informal equivalent of 'let it go' when speaking with friends, family or close acquaintances. For a more formal way to emphasize detachment and distancing from a situation or a person, you can use Détachez-vous-en.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to more than one person or using the formal vous form, you must use laissez tomber instead of laisse tomber.
Did you know?
- While the modern verb tomber means 'to fall', its ancestor in Old French actually meant 'to dance' or 'to do somersaults'.
- Even though laisse tomber is common, using the more literal Oublie ça can sometimes sound slightly more blunt or dismissive in French than it does in English.
- The phrasing of laisse tomber uses a 'causative' construction, where the speaker is not just asking for a fall but telling the other person to permit the fall to happen.
Examples in context
- Laisse tomber.Let it go.This sentence is useful for a simple, direct way to say 'Let it go' using laisse tomber.Tatoeba #400311 by qdii, translation #2249520 by CK
- Laisse tomber !Let it go!This sentence shows how to use laisse tomber with an exclamation mark for emphasis.Tatoeba #1973430 by sacredceltic, translation #531542 by wma
- Laisse tomber cette histoire.Let this story go.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is trying to fix a broken toy, but Hugo advises her to stop.
- LéaÇa ne marche toujours pas !It's still not working!
- HugoLaisse tomber, Léa, ce n'est pas grave.Let it go, Léa, it's not a big deal.
- LéaTu as raison, j'arrête.You're right, I'm stopping.
- HugoOn en parlera plus tard.We'll talk about it later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tomber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
