Phrasal Verb Fun

let
(let, let, let)
It means 'to allow', 'to permit' or 'to authorise'.
let down
Penelope thought that Emile was going to marry her, but he let her down.
When somebody breaks their promise to you, you feel let down. You have
been allowed to fall. You feel deflated, and your hopes have crashed
down
to the ground. The person who did this let you down.
Mary's aunt promised her a surprise for her birthday. When she got a bar
of soap, she felt very let down.
Separable two-word verb
. Be careful.
let off
Mrs Barnett was caught stealing bacon from the corner shop, but as it
was only her first offence, the magistrate let her off with a warning.
You have been allowed
off
the hook. (Think about fishing.) You were to
have suffered, to be punished, or pay the debt, but you were let off. You
will not suffer or be punished, and the debt is forgiven.
Separable two-word verb
Be careful.
lie
(lie, lay, lain/laid) (The dictionaries will tell you that the past participle is
lain but I have never heard it. So here you get a choice.)
To stretch yourself horizontally.
Notice that this verb NEVER has an object. Do not confuse it with
lay
(lay,
laid, lain/laid) , which always does. Sometimes less-educated natives

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make this mistake as well.
Lazy Lulu is always lying on the sofa. Yesterday she lay there all day.
But -
Happy Harry laid his maps on the table for his geography class.

Notice that lie (lie, lied, lied) means not to tell the truth.
lie down
Down
just makes the idea of lie stronger. 'I think I'll go and lie down.'
means 'I'm going to lie on my bed for a time.' It is a very popular verb with
invalids and old people.
Two-word verb without an object
. No problem.
lie in
Lie in means to lie
in
bed in the morning later than usual. Many of our
friends lie in on Sundays. It helps make it the best day of the week for
busy people.
Two-word verb without an object
No problem.