go light on (someone)

go light on (someone)

To treat someone delicately, gently, or leniently; to not criticize, punish, or berate someone too harshly. Ah, go light on Bill, it's only his first day in the office. Go light on your little brother, will you? He didn't mean to break the window. Can you please go light on Sarah? Yes, she screwed this report up, but her mom was just diagnosed with cancer a few days ago.

See also: go, light, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

go light on

1. To use, acquire, or consume in small or moderate amounts: go light on the garlic.

2. To treat leniently.

See also: go, light, on

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.