leave alone

English[edit]

leave alone (third-person singular simple present leaves alone, present participle leaving alone, simple past and past participle left alone)

(transitive) To stop bothering (a person).
I wish he'd leave me alone.

We left her alone until she calmed down.
- 1951 December, “Notes and News: Travel Through the Balkans”, in Railway Magazine, page 854:
  The Greeks leave transit passengers alone on the Svilengrad-Edirne-Pithion section; the Turkish examination is at Edirne. Pithion is a charming and sleepy little oasis in the middle of nowhere.
(transitive) To desist or refrain from involvement with.
It's safest to leave dangerous chemicals alone.

to stop bothering