English · Idiom Candidate C1

let alone

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

not to mention, even less likely

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

không kể đến, thậm chí còn ít khả năng hơn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English

Examples

I couldn't even finish my homework, let alone start on the project.

AI-drafted example auto-approved by rule (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)

Sources & notes

Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-31; pending editor spot-check.

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

an expression which signifies "much less" as used in comparative statement or argument. "I cannot afford five shillings, LET ALONE five pounds." Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Huống chi

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “let alone” mean?

not to mention, even less likely

Is “let alone” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.