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  • Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 264. The idiom today is let one's hair down.

  • Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone lets his or her hair down, he

  • or she lets himself or herself behave a lot more freely, especially

  • without worrying about what one thinks. So they could just be themselves. They could let

  • their hair down. They could relax. That's what we mean by to let one's hair down.

  • Okay. Let's continue. The origin of this idiom goes all the way back to the 17th

  • century. At this time, it was proper for women to wear their hair up in public

  • often pinned up in a bun. So it probably felt a little . It probably felt

  • constricted. It didn't really feel probably very natural, but that was the proper way.

  • So they were probably more stressed during the day. The only time it was

  • considered proper for a woman to let her hair down was when she was bathing

  • no washing or brushing her hair. When they were home alone. So that's the only

  • time they could let their hair down. That's the only time they could just be

  • themselves and not worry about somebody looking at them or saying something

  • about them or thinking something improper about them. Okay.

  • Thus this was the only time. They can relax and be more free. Okay. So that's

  • really where it comes from. That's why we tell people to let one's hair down. It goes

  • all the way to several centuries ago, especially in regard to women having to

  • wear it up to be proper. Okay. Anyway, let's look. We have three examples here.

  • The way we use it today. Example number one. You had a stressful week. You should

  • come with us to the disco tonight and let your hair down. Good or number two.

  • you have been working too hard recently. You should come over and let your hair

  • down tonight. We are having a get-together. Okay. It's another way. After

  • my finals are over meaning after they're

  • finished I'm going to let my hair down and go partying. You know, go have fun,

  • especially a lot of college students might say that. Maybe their finals were

  • over. They can act crazy. Go out with their friends. They're going to let their

  • hair down and you know just party. Get out their stress. Okay. Anyway, I hope you

  • got it. I hope it was clear. Thank you for your time.

  • Bye-bye.

Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 264. The idiom today is let one's hair down.

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