let him talk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'let him talk' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to suggest that someone should be allowed to speak and be heard without interruption. For example, "I think we should just let him talk - I'm sure he has something important to say."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I just try to let him talk".

The New York Times - Sports

So I mostly just let him talk.

The Guardian - Music

"And of course you let him talk.

The New York Times

"Our strategy is to just let him talk".

The New York Times

We shouldn't have let him talk to us like that.

The New Yorker

We let him talk, get it out of his system.

The Guardian

People cried out "Let him talk!" but to no avail.

The New Yorker

So I let him talk me into it.

The Guardian - Film

"Let him talk so you don't seem like you're anxious".

The New York Times

The colonel and his entourage, amused at this instance of mistaken identity, let him talk.

The New York Times

Cavett was wise enough to know he had gold, and just let him talk.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "let him talk" when you want to emphasize the importance of allowing someone to express their views without interruption.

Common error

Don't assume that using "let him talk" is always polite. In some contexts, it can sound condescending or imply that the person's views are not valued.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let him talk" functions as an imperative, directly instructing or urging someone to permit another person to speak. It serves to emphasize the importance of allowing someone to express their views freely. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

24%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "let him talk" is a common and grammatically sound imperative used to encourage allowing someone to speak without interruption. As Ludwig AI explains, its purpose is to promote open communication, but its informality should be considered. While widely used in News & Media, and in Wiki content, the directness of "let him talk" might not always be appropriate. Remember to consider the context and your audience when using this phrase. Alternatives such as "allow him to speak" or "give him a chance to speak" might be more suitable for formal environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow him to speak

More formal and direct; emphasizes permission.

permit him to speak

Highly formal and legalistic; suggests official authorization.

give him a chance to speak

Emphasizes fairness and opportunity.

hear him out

Focuses on listening to the entire statement.

give him the floor

Grants him the opportunity to address an audience.

let him express himself

Focuses on allowing emotional or personal expression.

enable him to speak

Highlights the act of enabling or making it possible for him to talk.

don't interrupt him

Focuses on the negative aspect of letting someone finish.

let him continue

Suggests that he has started to speak but needs encouragement to continue.

allow him his say

Implies that his statement may be controversial and deserves consideration.

FAQs

What does "let him talk" mean?

The phrase "let him talk" is an imperative that means allowing someone to speak without interruption, giving them the opportunity to express their thoughts or opinions.

What can I say instead of "let him talk"?

You can use alternatives like "allow him to speak", "give him a chance to speak", or "hear him out" depending on the context.

How to use "let him talk" in a sentence?

Use "let him talk" as an imperative to encourage others to allow someone to express their opinion. For example: "The moderator asked the audience to let him talk so everyone could understand his perspective."

Is "let him talk" formal or informal?

"Let him talk" is generally considered informal. In more formal settings, consider alternatives like "allow him to speak" or "permit him to speak".