Meaning trap

let down

reduce effectiveness

To make something less effective, impressive, or successful than it could be, often by being a weak or disappointing aspect of it.

phrasal verbC1occasional

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

reduce effectiveness

To make something less effective, impressive, or successful than it could be, often by being a weak or disappointing aspect of it.

let down (disappoint someone)

'let down' also has the more basic meaning 'disappoint someone'; this is the advanced sense.

View meaning map

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

The film was visually stunning, but the weak script really let it down.evaluation
While the research was thorough, the lack of clear conclusions let the paper down and weakened its overall impact.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: let down + object (thing/abstract noun)

WrongThe film was let down for the bad acting.

RightThe film was let down by the bad acting.

In the passive, the weak element takes 'by' — 'let down by X'.

Patternlet down + object (thing/abstract noun)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The weak ending diminished the overall quality of the film.

Natural The weak ending really let the film down.

'Let down' naturally means be the disappointing weak part. 'Diminished the overall quality' is formal.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

let + down
let the team downletting it downlet down bythe weak link

Don't confuse it

Unlike the B1 sense ('let down' = disappoint someone), this sense is about a thing or aspect reducing the overall quality or impact of something, not about disappointing a person directly.

let down (disappoint someone) — 'let down' also has the more basic meaning 'disappoint someone'; this is the advanced sense.

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