Leave-alone

The phrase 'leave-alone' describes the act of refraining from interfering with, bothering, or disturbing someone or something. It implies a respect for privacy, autonomy, or the natural course of events. It can signify a request, a command, or a description of behavior. The phrase often carries a connotation of allowing someone or something to be, without unwanted intervention or attention. It acknowledges that sometimes the best course of action is to abstain from involvement and to allow matters to unfold independently. The term can extend to physical space, emotions, possessions, and relationships.

Leave-alone meaning with examples

• The exhausted hiker simply wanted to be leave-alone to rest undisturbed, away from the bustling campground. He sat quietly, sipping water, hoping for a moment of peace. All he needed was a respite to recuperate. A sign reading "Do Not Disturb" might as well have been wrapped around him.
• The artist, in the throes of inspiration, requested to be leave-alone while she worked on her masterpiece. Her studio was sacred territory during these periods. She would lose her concentration with the slightest distraction, the creative flow would be lost.
• After a difficult breakup, she needed to be leave-alone to process her emotions. She wasn't ready for sympathetic looks or well-intentioned advice. What she needed was a dark room and silence to come to grips with the sudden change.
• The injured animal retreated into the underbrush, giving the clear signal that it desired to be leave-alone. Its body was screaming for rest. Any approach would increase its stress. The other animals had all vanished.
• The neglected garden, overgrown with weeds, seemed to plead to be leave-alone and left to its own devices, at least until some serious planning could be done to improve things. Its condition had grown increasingly dire.