let (something) play out

let (something) play out

To allow something to progress naturally, without interfering in it. Though she desperately wanted to control the situation, she knew she had to let the application process play out. It's not like we can do anything, now that campaigning is over. We'll just have to see how the election plays out. Doctors want to let the infection play out for a while before introducing any other medications.

See also: let, out, play

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.