let alone
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Conjunction
- (idiomatic, negative polarity item) Much less; to say nothing of; used after negating one item, to introduce a further item whose negation is entailed by the negation of the first.
- I didn't even notice it, let alone mind it. [I didn't even notice it, so certainly I didn't mind it.]
- (idiomatic, positive polarity item, rare) not to mention, as well as; used after one item, to introduce a further item which is entailed by the first.
[edit] Usage notes
- Sometimes used with the order of items reversed.
[edit] Translations
to say nothing of
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Charles J. Fillmore, Paul Kay, Catherine O'Connor (September 1988) "Regularity and idiomaticity in grammatical constructions: The case of let alone" Language (Vol.64 No.3) pp.501-538
- Mark Liberman (24 February 2011) "Much less/Or even" Language Log
- E. Ward Gilman (editor) Merriam–Webster's Dictionary of English Usage p.596, Merriam–Webster, 1994 ISBN 9780877791324.
[edit] Verb
to let alone (third-person singular simple present lets alone, present participle letting alone, simple past and past participle let alone)
- (transitive) To leave alone, let be; to stop bothering.
- I wish he would let me alone so I could get some sleep.
[edit] Translations
leave alone — see leave alone
