ENGLISH
REFERENCE

let oneself go

idiom
Meaning

To relax and enjoy oneself without restraint.


Examples
SIMPLE

It is time to let yourself go and dance.

CONTEXTUAL

After a stressful month at work, she decided to let herself go and enjoy the music at the festival.

COMPLEX

Once the formal dinner ended, the guests finally let themselves go, shedding their stiff manners to laugh and celebrate late into the night.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    adorn oneself with borrowed plumes

    To claim the honor of another for oneself.

  2. 02

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  3. 03

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  4. 04

    apply oneself

    Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.

  5. 05

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  6. 06

    be oneself

    To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.

  7. 07

    bear oneself

    To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.

  8. 08

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

Last updated April 17, 2026