Let it be means leave something as it is and don't interfere. It is advice not to get involved, not to argue and not to try to fix anything: It's not worth the argument. Let it be. The phrase is informal: it fits everyday speech and IELTS Speaking, but it is not used in essays.
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let it be; let + person + be (= leave someone alone); leave it be
- He made a silly joke about my accent, but I decided to let it be.
- Your sister needs some time alone after the exam, so let her be for now.
- The office printer makes a strange noise, but it still works, so let it be until the technician comes on Monday.
What changed
First versionWe can't agree on a date, so let it be Friday.
RevisionWe can't agree on a date, so let's say Friday.
Let it be Friday may look like a natural way to choose a day, but to a native speaker it sounds odd, because let it be means leave things as they are. To choose between options, say let's say Friday, let's make it Friday or Friday works. The only change is let it be to let's say.
Let it go means stop holding on to something, usually a hurt feeling or a worry you should put behind you: It happened years ago; let it go. Let it be is about the situation around you: don't interfere, let things take their course. So be it means fine, if that's how it is, and shows reluctant acceptance of someone else's decision: If they want to cancel the trip, so be it.
Your turn
Your parents have rearranged the furniture in a way you don't like, but it's their flat, so just ___.
Show the answer
let it be — After let, the verb comes without to: let it be, let me know. Let it to be appears by analogy with allow it to be, but let is never used that way. The meaning fits too: it is your parents' flat, so it is better not to interfere with their decision.
A colleague keeps reworking your shared document in their own way, and you are not very happy about it. Using let it be, write why you decided not to interfere: say what exactly they are changing and give your reason.
My colleague keeps changing the fonts in our shared report, but I decided to let it be because the content matters more.
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