let someone down

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to disappoint someone by failing to do what you agreed to do or what they expected of you. It is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the pronoun or person's name usually goes between 'let' and 'down'. The tone is often serious, apologetic, or regretful.

Examples

• I promised to help her move, and I don't want to let her down.

  I promised to help her move, and I don't want to let her down.

• He felt like he let his parents down when he failed the final exam.

  He felt like he let his parents down when he failed the final exam.

• You can trust me to finish this project on time; I won't let you down.

  You can trust me to finish this project on time; I won't let you down.

• She was deeply hurt when her best friend let her down at the last minute.

  She was deeply hurt when her best friend let her down at the last minute.

• The team played incredibly well and didn't let their coach down.

  The team played incredibly well and didn't let their coach down.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't let down me.

  ✓ Don't let me down.

  When the object of this phrasal verb is a pronoun (me, him, her, us, them), it must go between 'let' and 'down'.

• ✗ I am sorry for letting down to you.

  ✓ I am sorry for letting you down.

  Do not use the preposition 'to' after this phrasal verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'm counting on you to feed my cat while I'm away, so please don't ___.

  💡 Do not disappoint me or fail to do it.

  Show answer

  let me down

• He was worried that his performance on stage would ___.

  💡 Disappoint his family.

  Show answer

  let his family down