lâcher

lâcher [lα∫e]

➭ TABLE 1 transitive verb

   a. [+ main, proie] to let go of ; [+ bombes] to drop ; [+ pigeon, ballon] to release ; [+ chien] to unleash ; [+ frein] to release ; [+ juron] to come out with

• lâche-moi ! let go of me!

• le prof nous a lâchés à 4 heures (inf) the teacher let us out at 4

• lâcher un chien sur qn to set a dog on sb

• lâcher prise to let go (fig) to loosen one's grip

• tu me lâches ! (inf) leave me alone!

• lâche-moi les baskets ! (inf) get off my back! (inf)

   b. ( = abandonner) [+ ami] to drop ; [+ études] to give up

• il ne l'a pas lâché [importun, représentant] he wouldn't leave him alone

• il nous a lâchés en plein travail he walked out on us right in the middle of the work

• ma voiture m'a lâché my car gave up on me (inf)

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I
1. lɑʃe

verbe transitif

1) (cesser de tenir) to drop [objet]; to let go of [corde, main]

lâche-moi — lit let go of me; fig (colloq) give me a break (colloq), leave me alone

lâcher prise — to lose one's grip

2) (produire) to come out with [mot]; to reveal [information]; to let out [cri]

il n'a pas lâché un mot de toute la soirée — he didn't utter a word all evening

3) (laisser partir) to let [sb/sth] go [personne, animal]

elle a lâché ses chiens sur lui — she set her dogs on him

il ne la lâche pas des yeux — he never takes his eyes off her

4) (abandonner) to drop [ami, activité]

5) Sport (distancer) to break away from [concurrent]

2.

verbe intransitif (céder) [lien, nœud] to give way; [freins] to fail

3.

se lâcher verbe pronominal (colloq) (se décontracter) to let it all hang out (colloq), to let one's hair down

II lɑʃe

nom masculin (de ballons, d'oiseaux) release

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lɒʃe

1. vt

1) [main] to let go of

Il n'a pas lâché ma main. — He didn't let go of my hand.

lâcher prise — to let go

2) [verre] to drop

Il a été tellement surpris qu'il a lâché son verre. — He was so surprised that he dropped his glass.

3) (= abandonner) to drop

4) (= libérer) to release, to set free

5) [mot, remarque] to come out with

6) SPORT (= distancer) to leave behind

7)

lâcher les amarres — to cast off

2. vi

1) (= se casser) [fil, corde] to break, to give way

2) [freins] to fail

Les freins ont lâché. — The brakes failed.

3. nm

[ballons, pigeons] release

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lâcher verb table: aimer

A nm (de ballons, d'oiseaux) release.

B vtr

1 (cesser de tenir) to drop [objet]; to let go of [corde, branche]; lâchez vos armes! drop your guns!; ne lâche pas la corde! don't let go of the rope!; lâchez-moi le bras! let go of my arm!; lâche-moi lit let go of me; fig○ give me a break○, leave me alone; lâcher prise lit to lose one's grip; fig to give up; ⇒ proie;

2 (produire) to come out with [mot, phrase, juron, gaffe]; to reveal [information]; to let out [soupir, cri, pet, rot]; lâcher une rafale de mitraillette to fire a stream of bullets; il n'a pas lâché un mot de toute la soirée he didn't utter a word all evening; ⇒ bordée;

3 (laisser partir) to let [sb/sth] go [personne, animal, chariot]; il a lâché ses chiens he released his dogs; elle a lâché ses chiens sur lui she set her dogs on him; il ne m'a pas lâché une seconde he didn't leave me to myself for a second; il ne la lâche pas des yeux or du regard he never takes his eyes off her;

4 (abandonner) to drop [ami, associé, activité]; lâché par ses anciens amis dropped by his former friends; la peur ne la lâche plus depuis she's been in the grip of fear ever since;

5 ○(accepter de donner, de vendre) to let [sth] go [objet]; lâcher de l'argent to cough up○; lâcher qch à qn to let sb have sth [argent, objet];

6 Sport (distancer) to break away from [concurrent]; il a lâché le peloton dans la montée he broke away from the main field on the slope.

C vi (céder) [corde, lien, nœud] to give way; [freins] to fail; [nerfs] to break.

D se lâcher vpr

1 (cesser de se tenir) to let go;

2 ○(se décontracter) to let it all hang out○, to let one's hair down.

I

[laʃe] nom masculin

ils ont fait un lâcher de colombes they released a flock of doves

lâcher de ballons balloon release

II

[laʃe] verbe transitif

1. [desserrer] to loosen, to slacken

lâcher la vapeur to let off steam

lâcher la bonde ou les bondes à to give vent to

lâcher la bride à un cheval (sens propre) to give a horse its head

lâcher la bride à quelqu'un (figuré) to allow somebody more freedom of movement

2. [cesser de tenir] to let go of (inseparable)

lâcher la pédale du frein to take one's foot off the brake (pedal)

elle a lâché la pile d'assiettes she dropped the pile of plates

il roule en lâchant le guidon he rides with no hands

lâche-moi! let me go!, let go of me!

elle ne la lâchait pas des yeux ou du regard she didn't take her eyes off her for a moment

lâcher prise to let go

cette idée ne m'a pas lâché I couldn't get this idea out of my mind

tu me lâches, oui? (familier) get out of my sight, will you?

lâche-moi les baskets! (familier) leave me alone!, get off my back!

il les lâche avec un élastique (familier) he's a stingy ou tight-fisted old so-and-so

lâcher la proie pour l'ombre to chase rainbows

lâcher pied (sens propre & figuré) to give way

3. AÉRONAUTIQUE [bombe] to drop

[ballon] to launch

4. [libérer - oiseau] to let loose, to release, to let go ; [ - chien] to let off, to unleash ; [ - animal dangereux] to set loose ; [ - meute, faucon] to slip

lâcher les chiens sur quelqu'un to set the dogs on somebody

le prof nous a lâchés plus tôt (familier) the teacher let us out earlier

5. (familier) [abandonner - ami, amant] to drop ; [ - emploi] to quit

lâcher ses études to drop out of school

le moteur nous a lâchés le deuxième jour the engine broke down on us on the second day

6. [émettre] to let out, to come out with (inseparable)

lâcher un juron to let out an oath

lâcher une sottise to come out with a silly remark

lâcher un pet (familier) to break wind

7. SPORT [distancer - concurrent] to get a lead on, to leave behind (separable)

lâcher le peloton to leave the rest of the field behind, to (stage a) break from the pack

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[laʃe] verbe intransitif

[se casser - câble] to snap, to break, to give (way) ; [ - embrayage, frein] to fail