leave (someone or something) in peace

To not bother someone or something; to leave someone or something alone. I'm afraid that's all I'm going to say on the matter. Now please leave me in peace. If it were up to me, we would leave these remains in peace, but I'm sure the government will move them.

leave someone in peace

Avoid disturbing or bothering someone, as in It's best to leave Dean in peace when he's paying the bills. This expression uses peace in the sense of "undisturbed," a usage dating from the early 1200s. Also see leave one alone; let be.

See also: leave, peace, someone

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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