Let it go vs Oh whatever he eats garbage

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Let it go

Top 2,000 (common)

Oh whatever he eats garbage

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Let it go

	Let it go	Oh whatever he eats garbage
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //lɛt ɪt ɡəʊ// 🇺🇸 //lɛt ɪt ɡoʊ//	🇬🇧 //əʊ wɒtˈɛvə hiː iːts ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ// 🇺🇸 //oʊ wʌtˈɛvər hi iʧ ˈɡɑrbɪdʒ//
Meaning	Stop worrying about something.	It's not important what he eats.
Example	You need to just let it go and move forward.	When I asked if he liked pizza, he just said, 'Oh whatever he eats garbage.'
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	let it go now, let it go and move on, let it go for good	oh whatever, eat garbage, garbage food
Antonyms	hold on, cling, obsess	-
Common mistakes	Omitting the object, saying 'let go' instead of 'let it go', Confusing with 'let go', which means to release physically, Using it in formal writing or speeches	Learners might confuse 'oh whatever' with just 'whatever', losing the initial exclamation., Incorrectly use in formal contexts where a more respectful expression is needed., Omitting 'he' might lead to unclear meaning.
Usage notes	Use in informal settings to encourage someone to move on from a situation; less appropriate in serious contexts.	Used in casual conversations to dismiss someone's concerns or opinions, often implying indifference or sarcasm.

See it in real clips

Can't we just let it go?

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Let it go.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Just let it go.

Can't we just let it go?

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Let it go.

Let it go

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

Oh, whatever. He eats garbage.

Oh whatever he eats garbage

Frequently asked questions: Let it go vs Oh whatever he eats garbage

What's the difference between Let it go and Oh whatever he eats garbage?

Let it go: Stop worrying about something. Oh whatever he eats garbage: It's not important what he eats.

Which is more formal: Let it go and Oh whatever he eats garbage?

Let it go is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

Let it go: You need to just let it go and move forward. Oh whatever he eats garbage: When I asked if he liked pizza, he just said, 'Oh whatever he eats garbage.'

Can I use Let it go and Oh whatever he eats garbage interchangeably?

Not always. Let it go and Oh whatever he eats garbage are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.