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let alone
let alone someone or something
not to mention or think of someone or something; not even to take someone or something into account. (Fixed order.) Do I have a dollar? I don't even have a dime, let alone a dollar. I didn't invite John, let alone the rest of his family.
let someone or something alone
and leave someone or something alone; leave someone or something beto avoid touching, bothering, or communicating with someone or something. Leave me alone. I don't want your help. Let it alone! Don't touch it! It may be hot!
let alone do something
and to an even greater degree do something
We were trapped in a situation you can barely imagine, let alone understand. Usage notes: used to emphasize the extreme character of something
Related vocabulary: not to mention somebody/somethinglet somebody alone
to not annoy or interrupt someone leave somebody alone I tried to keep my promise not to call her, to let her alone to think, but finally I needed to talk to her.
let alone
2. Not to mention, as in We have no room for another house guest, let alone an entire family. [c. 1800]
let alone
Not to mention; much less: "Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them" (Garrison Keillor).