ENGLISH
REFERENCE

live and let live

idiom
Meaning

To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.


Origin

first recorded 17th c. disputed origin

Possibly a calque of Dutch leven en laten leven, which was mentioned by Gerard de Malynes in a 1622 book about trade law (in the then-current spelling leuen ende laeten leuen).

Examples
SIMPLE

We live and let live in our neighborhood.

CONTEXTUAL

My neighbors have different beliefs than mine, but we prefer to live and let live.

COMPLEX

Despite their profound ideological differences, the two colleagues agreed to live and let live to maintain a productive working relationship.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    buy to let

    To purchase a property as in investment, and to let it out for rental instead of living in it

  2. 02

    don't let the door hit you on the way out

    Used as a command to leave in haste, or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.

  3. 03

    let a sleeping dog lie

    Alternative form of let sleeping dogs lie.

  4. 04

    let bygones be bygones

    To disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence (when dealing with another individual).

  5. 05

    let crazy stick its dick in you

    To have sex with a male deemed insane.

  6. 06

    let down

    To disappoint; to betray or fail somebody.

  7. 07

    let drive

    To aim a blow; to strike with force; to attack; to shoot (an arrow or firearm).

  8. 08

    let fly

    To strike or release a projectile with great force.

© 2026 English Reference