lig ar

See also: ligar and łigar

Irish

Etymology

Calque of English let on

Verb

lig ar

  1. to let on (to reveal or indicate)
    • 1939, Peig Sayers, “Inghean an Cheannaidhe”, in Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études; 270) (overall work in French), Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, page 196:
      Do ghlac rabharta feirge an captaen, ach níor leig sé aon nídh air.
      A flood of rage seized captain was filled with rage, but he didn’t let on.

Usage notes

The preposition ar is reflexive in this construction: its object agrees with the subject of the verb:

  • ligim orm ― I let on
  • ligeann tú ort ― you let on
  • ligeann sé air ― he lets on
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