let (someone) down easy/gently

phrase

: to give someone unpleasant news in a gentle or kind way

I knew I had to fire her, but I was trying to think of a way to let her down easy.

Examples of let (someone) down easy/gently in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Benét demoed the song and sent it to Bailey Rae in London, but was let down gently. — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

let sleeping dogs lie

let (someone) down easy/gently

let (someone) have it

See all Nearby Words

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“Let (someone) down easy/gently.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20%28someone%29%20down%20easy%2Fgently. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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