30+ Other Ways to Say Let It Go (100+ Examples)

A lot of people carry heavy thoughts around, every single day. Holding onto things, like old mistakes or tiny hurts, makes life feel very stiff. Moving forward, however, is much better for your heart. You deserve to feel light, free, and happy, so stop stressing about the past. Sometimes, you just need a fresh way to say that you are ready to move on. Finding the right words can help you feel better, right now.

Casual Ways to Say Let It Go

Move On

This phrase is super common, because it works for almost any situation. Use it when you want to stop thinking about a problem, or when a friend is stuck on something small. It sounds very natural, like you are just giving advice to a pal. It is perfect for a quick text, or a chat over coffee, when you want to keep things simple and clear for everyone.

• You should just move on, since he is not worth your time.
• It is time to move on, because dwelling on the past hurts.
• Please move on, and focus on the good stuff happening today.
• We decided to move on, after talking about the issue once.

Drop It

When you want someone to stop talking about a bad topic, use this phrase. It is direct, firm, and leaves no room for guessing. Use it with people you know well, because it might sound a bit blunt to a stranger. It is the best choice for ending a boring argument, or when you are just done with the whole silly mess.

• You need to drop it, because the fight is over now.
• She told him to drop it, so they could enjoy dinner.
• Please drop it, since it is not helping us win anything.
• They chose to drop it, once they saw it upset me.

Brush It Off

This sounds like you are cleaning dust off your coat, which is a great image. Use this when someone says something mean, or when you fail at a tiny task. It suggests that the thing is small, and not worth your time or energy. It helps you stay calm, cool, and collected, even when people try to get under your skin.

• You should brush it off, because his mean words mean nothing.
• She tried to brush it off, though it still hurt her.
• Just brush it off, and go have some fun at lunch.
• He learned to brush it off, after years of practice here.

Forget About It

Sometimes, the best way to handle a mistake is to simply stop keeping it in your brain. This phrase tells yourself or others that the past does not matter anymore. It is a very relaxing thing to say, as it creates space for new and better thoughts. Use it when you are ready to stop feeling bad, and start feeling good again.

• Forget about it, since we have better things to do now.
• He said to forget about it, because life is too short.
• Please forget about it, and let us start fresh this week.
• We can forget about it, if you promise to smile today.

Shake It Off

Do you ever feel tense or stuck, like your body is holding onto stress? This phrase is about moving your body and your mind to get rid of that heavy feeling. It is a very active, upbeat way to say you are leaving the past behind. Use it when you need a boost of energy, or when you want to cheer yourself up fast.

• You should shake it off, and dance like nobody is looking.
• He tried to shake it off, after he missed the goal.
• Just shake it off, since there is no point in crying.
• They told me to shake it off, so I felt better.

Forget It

This is short, punchy, and very clear for anyone to understand. It works perfectly when you are in a rush, or when you do not want to explain your feelings. It is a great way to close a door on a bad situation. Use it when you feel tired of an old topic, and you just want to find some peace and quiet.

• Forget it, because I do not want to talk anymore.
• She said to forget it, then she walked away smiling today.
• Please forget it, since the money is already gone for good.
• You can forget it, if you really want to move along.

Let Be

When you cannot change a situation, this is the best thing to say. It means you are choosing to stop fighting the reality of things. It is very calm, and very helpful for your mental health. Use it when you feel like you are pushing a wall that will not move, because it helps you save your precious energy for things you can fix.

• Just let be, because some things never change at all.
• He decided to let be, and focus on his own work.
• We had to let be, even though it was very hard.
• You should let be, since you cannot force them to change.

Get Over It

This phrase is a bit stronger than the others, so be careful who you say it to. It is best used for yourself, or with a very close friend who needs a nudge. It pushes you to stop sulking, and to look at the bright side of life. Use it when you want to stop wasting time, and start moving toward something new.

• You need to get over it, so you can stop hurting.
• She told me to get over it, but I needed time.
• It is time to get over it, because the day waits.
• We decided to get over it, and go get some pizza.

Quit Dwelling

Dwelling means staying in one place, like a room, but in your head. When you quit dwelling, you are finally leaving that dark place behind. This is a smart way to talk about stopping those bad thoughts that go in circles. Use it when you catch yourself thinking about the same old mistake, and you want to snap out of it.

• Quit dwelling, and look at all the beautiful stars tonight.
• He told her to quit dwelling, because life moves so fast.
• Please quit dwelling, since the past cannot be changed anyway.
• You should quit dwelling, if you want to find real peace.

Stop Obsessing

When a thought takes over your brain, you are obsessing. This phrase is a gentle way to tell yourself to stop that habit. It helps you pull your focus back to the present moment, where you can actually take action. Use it when you feel like a thought is becoming a heavy weight, and you want to be free of it.

• Stop obsessing, and go take a walk outside with me.
• He needed to stop obsessing, so he could sleep at night.
• You must stop obsessing, because it is making you very sad.
• Please stop obsessing, and try to enjoy your day today.

Playful Ways to Say Let It Go

Wave Goodbye

Imagine yourself standing by the sea, watching your worries sail away on a boat. This phrase makes letting go feel fun and light, rather than a big chore. It is perfect for when you are finally done with a bad mood, or a person who was not very nice. It adds a bit of whimsy to your day, making you feel much lighter inside.

• Wave goodbye to the stress, and say hello to the sun.
• She chose to wave goodbye, to all the drama of yesterday.
• You should wave goodbye, since the past is a closed book.
• We like to wave goodbye, whenever we find a new path.

Throw It Away

This treats your problems like trash, which is honestly a great way to think. If a thought is not helpful, you do not need to keep it in your head. It is like cleaning your room, but for your brain. Use this phrase when you want to be funny, or when you want to show that the issue is truly garbage.

• Throw it away, because you do not need that stuff anymore.
• He decided to throw it away, and live his best life.
• You can throw it away, since it brings you no joy.
• They helped me throw it away, so I felt lighter fast.

Send It Packing

Picture your worries as a guest who has stayed too long at your house. Sending them packing means you are kicking them out the door, and locking it behind them. It is a cheeky way to handle your feelings. Use it when you want to take control of your mood, and show those bad thoughts that they are not welcome here.

• Send it packing, because your brain is a very nice place.
• She had to send it packing, to find her own joy.
• You must send it packing, before it ruins your nice day.
• They told me to send it packing, so I felt relief.

Give It the Boot

This is a very funny way to say you are done with something. It sounds like you are literally kicking a problem out of your life. It is great for when you want to sound tough, but also a little bit silly. Use it when you are ready to laugh at how much time you wasted on something so small.

• Give it the boot, and find something better to do today.
• He had to give it the boot, to stop the pain.
• You should give it the boot, since it is very boring.
• We decided to give it the boot, and go get ice.

Put It to Rest

Think of your worries as something that needs to take a long nap. Putting them to rest means you are tucking them in, and leaving them behind. This is a very sweet and calm way to say you are finished with a fight. Use it when you want to end things on a soft, kind note, with no more bad feelings.

• Put it to rest, because we are both very tired now.
• She wanted to put it to rest, so they could talk.
• You should put it to rest, and enjoy a quiet night.
• We decided to put it to rest, once the sun set.

Let the Wind Take It

This is such a pretty and calm way to think about your problems. Just imagine a light breeze blowing your worries away, far into the sky. It makes letting go feel very natural, like nature doing the work for you. Use this when you are outside, or when you want to feel a sense of total freedom and peace.

• Let the wind take it, since you cannot hold the air.
• He chose to let the wind take it, and just breathe.
• You should let the wind take it, and be free again.
• We let the wind take it, while we sat by water.

Wish It Well

Sometimes, the best way to let go of a person is to wish them luck. This shows that you are not angry, you are just ready to move on. It is a very mature, and kind way to end a chapter. Use this when you want to leave with your head held high, and a light heart, for your own good.

• Wish it well, and walk toward your own bright future now.
• She chose to wish it well, because she felt very happy.
• You should wish it well, and focus on your new path.
• We had to wish it well, so we could move on.

Bid It Adieu

This sounds fancy, but it is just a fun way to say goodbye to your troubles. It adds a bit of flair to your day, making you feel like a star in your own life. Use it when you are feeling dramatic, or when you want to make a big point about finally being done with an annoying situation.

• Bid it adieu, and keep on walking down the sunny path.
• He decided to bid it adieu, to save his own mind.
• You should bid it adieu, since you deserve a fresh start.
• They learned to bid it adieu, after a long hard year.

Sarcastic Ways to Say Let It Go

Give It a Rest

This is what you say when someone is talking about the same thing forever. It is a little bit rude, but very effective when you are totally fed up. Use it when you want to shut down a conversation that is going nowhere fast. It tells the other person that their topic is boring, and they need to stop it now.

• Give it a rest, because nobody wants to hear that again.
• She told him to give it a rest, so they stopped.
• You should give it a rest, since it is very old news.
• We had to give it a rest, to keep our sanity here.

Tell It to the Wall

This suggests that your problem is like a person who is not listening to you. Telling it to the wall means you are done trying to solve it, or talk about it. It is very sarcastic, and shows that you have zero interest in the topic anymore. Use this when you are really annoyed, and want to end the talk immediately.

• Tell it to the wall, because I am not listening now.
• He told his boss to tell it to the wall today.
• You can tell it to the wall, since I am busy now.
• They chose to tell it to the wall, and left us.

Take a Hike

This is a funny, old-fashioned way to tell someone, or a thought, to leave. It is very dismissive, and clearly shows you have no more room for this nonsense in your head. Use it when you want to be a bit mean, but also keep it light enough to avoid a real fight. It gets the point across very quickly.

• Take a hike, because I am finished with this whole mess.
• She told the bad mood to take a hike, right away.
• You should tell the stress to take a hike this time.
• We told the doubt to take a hike, and felt better.

Get Lost

This is the ultimate way to tell a thought to leave you alone. It is very short, and very sharp. You would only use this when you are at your limit, and you need space right now. It is a way to protect your peace, even if it sounds a little bit cold to the people around you.

• Get lost, because I have no more time for this now.
• He told the worry to get lost, so he could focus.
• You should tell the anger to get lost, and smile instead.
• They told the fear to get lost, and started to run.

Who Cares

When you want to show that a problem has zero value to you, say this. It instantly makes the issue seem small, and even silly. It is a great way to strip power away from something that was hurting you. Use it when you want to feel totally detached from a situation that no longer matters to you at all.

• Who cares, because life is too big for such small stuff.
• She said who cares, then she went to have lunch today.
• You should say who cares, and just do your own thing.
• We decided to say who cares, and stopped the fight here.

Whatever

This is the classic, ultimate way to stop a conversation. It says that you do not agree, but you do not want to argue anymore. It is very lazy, and very effective. Use it when you are totally over a situation, and you want to show that the other person is not worth your energy or your time.

• Whatever, because I am done talking about this thing now.
• He said whatever, and then he walked away from them all.
• You can just say whatever, and go back to your day.
• They said whatever, and finished the task in record time today.

Big Deal

Use this when someone is making a scene about nothing. It is a very sarcastic way to say that the situation is actually tiny, and not worth the fuss. It helps you keep your cool, while making the other person feel a little bit silly for being so worked up. It is a great tool for managing your own stress.

• Big deal, because nobody is going to remember this tomorrow anyway.
• She said big deal, to show she was not scared now.
• You should say big deal, and stop worrying about the result.
• We said big deal, and moved on to the next task.

Boo Hoo

This is meant for when someone is complaining about something that does not matter. It is very mean, so only use it with friends who know you are joking. It basically tells the person to stop acting like a baby. Use it when you want to lighten the mood with a sharp, funny, and slightly rude comment.

• Boo hoo, stop crying and start fixing the problem yourself now.
• He said boo hoo, but then he helped her anyway today.
• You should say boo hoo, to the tiny problems you have.
• They said boo hoo, and then we all started to laugh.

Save It

When you do not want to hear an excuse, this is the perfect word. It tells the other person that their words are not going to change your mind, or help the situation. It is very direct, and very firm. Use this when you are ready to move on, and you do not want to hear any more stories.

• Save it, because I have heard all your excuses already now.
• She said save it, and then she locked the door tight.
• You should say save it, and just do better next time.
• We told them to save it, so we could eat dinner.

Creative Ways to Say Let It Go

Start a New Page

This is a lovely way to talk about moving forward. It feels like you are writing your own life story, and you get to decide what happens next. It is very positive, and very hopeful. Use this when you want to focus on the future, rather than the mistakes or the hard times that you had in the past.

• Start a new page, and write a much better story today.
• He decided to start a new page, and left the city.
• You should start a new page, to see what comes next.
• We will start a new page, when the sun comes up.

Clear the Deck

This comes from ships, where you clear the floor to get ready for action. It means you are removing the clutter so you can work well. It is a very practical and smart way to look at letting go. Use it when you feel overwhelmed, and you need to simplify your life to get things done.

• Clear the deck, because we have a lot of work today.
• She had to clear the deck, to find her true path.
• You should clear the deck, and make room for new things.
• We clear the deck, whenever we need to focus on goals.

Release the Anchor

An anchor keeps a boat from moving, which is exactly what a bad memory does to you. Releasing the anchor means you are ready to sail again. It is a very powerful, and visual way to think about freedom. Use this when you have been stuck in the same place for too long, and you want to move.

• Release the anchor, and let your spirit sail away today.
• He had to release the anchor, to finally feel some joy.
• You must release the anchor, if you want to find peace.
• We release the anchor, and start our journey into the blue.

Close the Door

Sometimes, you have to shut things off completely to move on. Closing the door is final, and it keeps the past where it belongs. It is a very healthy way to set a boundary for yourself. Use this when you are finally ready to leave a situation, and you do not want to look back ever again.

• Close the door, so the past does not come back now.
• She chose to close the door, and start a new life.
• You should close the door, and walk toward the bright sun.
• We decided to close the door, on all that old drama.

Let the Dust Settle

This is for when things are crazy and loud, and you need to wait for peace. Letting the dust settle means you are not rushing into a reaction. It is a very wise way to handle a problem. Use this when you are confused, or when you need some time to think before you act.

• Let the dust settle, and you will see things clearly soon.
• He waited to let the dust settle, before he spoke up.
• You should let the dust settle, and stay calm for now.
• We let the dust settle, and found a better way out.

Turn the Page

This is similar to starting a new page, but it is about moving to the next part of your life. It implies that the chapter you were in was hard, but it is over now. Use this when you have learned your lesson, and you are ready to see what the next part of your journey brings.

• Turn the page, because the best part is yet to come.
• She had to turn the page, to grow as a person.
• You should turn the page, and leave the sadness behind you.
• We turn the page, whenever we feel stuck in the past.

Breathe It Out

This is a very simple, and very physical way to let go of stress. Just take a deep breath, and push the bad feeling out as you exhale. It works wonders for your body and your mind. Use this when you feel physical tension, or when you are having a really hard day and need relief.

• Breathe it out, and feel your shoulders drop down low today.
• He had to breathe it out, to calm his racing heart.
• You should breathe it out, and let your mind find rest.
• We breathe it out, every time things get a bit crazy.

Set It Free

This is a very gentle and kind way to let go of something that you once cared about. It is like letting a bird fly away into the sky. It shows that you are not trying to control the past anymore. Use this when you want to act with grace, and accept that some things are over.

• Set it free, and watch how much better you feel today.
• She chose to set it free, and felt like a bird.
• You should set it free, because love is not a cage.
• We set it free, and finally found our own true path.

Unburden Your Soul

This phrase is for when you are carrying a lot of heavy emotional weight. Unburdening means you are taking the load off your back. It is a very deep, and very healing way to describe letting go. Use this when you have been holding onto something for a long time, and you are ready to be free.

• Unburden your soul, and walk with a light heart again today.
• He needed to unburden his soul, so he went for walks.
• You should unburden your soul, and forgive yourself for the past.
• We unburden our soul, by speaking the truth to our friends.

Simple Ways to Say Let It Go

Move Along

This is very basic, and very easy for anyone to understand. It means you are not stopping, and you are not staying in the same place. It is a great way to say that the past is behind you, and you are looking forward. Use it when you are ready to keep your life moving in a new direction.

• Move along, and do not look back at the old road.
• She told me to move along, so I kept on walking.
• You should move along, because the future is waiting for you.
• We move along, and enjoy the sights on the way there.

Let Go

This is the most direct way to say it. It is very short, but it has a lot of meaning. It means you are releasing your grip on something that is not yours to hold. Use this when you want to be very clear with yourself, or with a friend, that the fight is finally finished today.

• Let go, and you will find your own peace of mind.
• He had to let go, to stop the hurt inside him.
• You should let go, because holding on is way too hard.
• We decided to let go, and felt such joy at last.

Walk Away

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is leave the room. Walking away means you are choosing your own peace over the fight. It is a physical act that shows you are done. Use this when a situation is toxic, or when you just have nothing more to say to the person who is causing trouble.

• Walk away, and never return to that bad place again today.
• She chose to walk away, to keep her heart very safe.
• You should walk away, if they do not treat you well.
• We had to walk away, to find our own happy path.

Stop Worrying

This is a friendly piece of advice that you can give to yourself. Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere. Stopping it helps you focus on what you can change. Use this when you feel anxious, and you want to calm your busy mind right down.

• Stop worrying, because everything will work out fine in the end.
• He told me to stop worrying, so I took a nap.
• You should stop worrying, and trust that you are very strong.
• We stop worrying, and focus on the fun we have now.

Don’t Think About It

This is a very simple way to clear your head. If you do not think about the problem, it loses its power over you. It is a way to stay focused on the now. Use this when you need a distraction, or when you are feeling stuck in a loop of bad, useless thoughts today.

• Don’t think about it, because it is not worth your time.
• She told him don’t think about it, and they went out.
• You should don’t think about it, and listen to some music.
• We don’t think about it, and just keep moving ahead fast.

Be Done with It

When you want to say that your patience is gone, use this. It is final, and it sets a clear end point. It is a great way to show that you have made a choice to change your life. Use this when you are ready to close a chapter, and never open that book again.

• Be done with it, and find a new way to live life.
• He decided to be done with it, and changed his job.
• You should be done with it, if it brings you pain.
• We are done with it, and ready for a fresh start.

Summary of Alternate Ways

Final Thoughts

I hope you found the perfect words to help you feel lighter today. Remember that letting go is a choice you make for your own peace. It takes practice, but it gets much easier with time. You are doing a great job, so keep being kind to yourself as you move toward a very bright future.

Do you want to feel free from the past? These many ways to say let it go will help you move on with a light and happy heart.