let someone down gently
委婉地讓某人失望或拒絕
口語·委婉拒絕或告知
英文釋義
To break bad news or disappoint someone in a kind or considerate manner
例句
She didn't want to hurt his feelings, so she let him down gently.
典故來源
源自19世紀,'down'指拒絕或失望,'gently'強調方式溫和。