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leave it out

B2 slang separable transitive
In simple words

Don't include that thing, or (British English, informal) 'Stop it!' or 'No way, I don't believe you!'

Literal meaning: To not include a particular thing.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic slang

(British slang, exclamation) Used to tell someone to stop doing or saying something annoying.

"'Leave it out, will you? I'm trying to concentrate,' she snapped."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic slang

(British slang, exclamation) Used to express disbelief or to dismiss something as ridiculous.

"'He said he ran a marathon last week.' 'Leave it out! He can barely walk to the corner shop.'"

Grammar: inseparable
3 A2 neutral

To omit or not include a particular item or piece of information.

"You can leave the technical jargon out when you speak to the general public."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The exclamatory slang sense is distinctly British, heard especially in London and the south of England. It can express either a command to stop behaviour or disbelief at what someone has said. The literal sense of omitting something is neutral and universal.

Commonly used with

rubbish nonsense that it the details

Forms

Base
leave it out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
leaves it out
he/she/it
Past simple
left it out
yesterday
Past participle
left it out
have + pp
-ing form
leaving it out
continuous

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Synonyms

stop it cut it out give over pack it in knock it off omit it

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