let it all hang out
Drop all pretenses
To let it all hang out is to be completely open, uninhibited, or relaxed—dropping pretense and social restraint.
The phrase emerged from 1960s counterculture, suggesting freedom from uptight convention: After a few drinks, he really let it all hang out.
It can mean expressing emotions freely, behaving without self-consciousness, or simply relaxing completely.
- relaxBecome less tense
- let looseRemove restraints from
- openNot closed
- open upReveal inner thoughts
- be yourselfEmbrace your authenticity
wild · throw caution · free spirit · display · uninhibited · bare · bare all · expose · show · vulnerability · heart on sleeve · soul baring · disclose · expressiveness · genuineness · unguardedness · unrestrained · candor
- retro slanggroovy, far out, the bee's knees, neato, cool cat
- Funkfunk, P-Funk, Funkadelic, George Clinton, James Brown
let it all hang outhold back
Prevent forward movement
repress · keep a stiff upper lip · suppress · button up · clam up
let it all hang outbuttoned-up
Formally reserved, emotionally guarded
strait-laced · prim and proper · uptight · toe the line · play it safe
let it all hang outkeep to oneself
Remain private about something
keep one's cards close to one's chest · clam up · keep mum · hold one's tongue