let on

let on pronunciation

/LET on/

Meaning

Let on works two ways in redneck and Appalachian talk. Don't let on means keep your mouth shut; don't show you know. Let on like means put on an act: we let on we didn't know where she was. Same little phrase, flip the sense with like or don't. Porch politics run on both.

How folks use it

• “Don't let on that we already bought the present.”
• “She let on like she didn't care, but she was hurt.”

Origin and etymology

Scotch-Irish settlers brought let on meaning pretend into Appalachia. Wider English also uses don't let on for not revealing something. Southern mountain speech kept both senses in everyday use.

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