What does "She's sure let herself go" mean?

[mumto3girls]

IMO it means she's stopped caring about her physical apperance- maybe gained weight, doesn't bother with makeup like she used to, a noticable change in her clothing, overall style and attitude.

I agree with this assessment. To me it is just generally a lack of focus on appearance with weight probably being at the top of this list followed shortly by just not paying attention to clothes, hair, makeup. I hear it often when someone is talking about a change in someone's life--She's let herself go since she had the baby, since she got married, since she stopped working etc. I think it could be spiteful and mean, but also said out of a genuine concern--depends on who is saying it.

 

[mhsjax]

Exactly. It means "I am a catty, mean-spirited person who is insecure enough to need to put other people down. Watch your back."

Not necessarily. Could be that they are concerned about her. We don't know the entire context of the conversation. If it was someone that took great pride in their appearance and now they don't, it could be a sign of a problem and maybe other things were said out of concern including that comment.

On the other hand it could be a person that is catty and mean, but I don't think you can say for sure that this is what the person saying it is.

 

[Art 1]

She probably got fat, does not get her hair done, does not iron her clothes, does not get her nails done, does not wear make-up. That's what it means to me.

 

[a1tinkfans]

In the past few weeks I have had a couple of friends mention that a classmate has "sure let herself go." What exactly does that mean to you?

Gained Weight!
Looks Tired, Beaten and worn out
Not a positive comment, so I guess they say it to others, not to their face. Kinda like this incognito, its mean spirited.

 

[RitaZ.]

To me, it means that the person has stopped caring about their physical appearance. It doesn't necessarily mean that they've gained weight. I see overweight women quite often that are well dressed and very put together.

I do believe that the way we look on the outside is a reflection of what we are feeling inside. When my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which subsequently killed him, I lost a lot of weight. A lot! I'm sure I looked unhealthy because I had friends asking me if I was sick, too. Again, it was a reflection of the pain that I was going through.

 

[handinpocket]

Oh my goodness, people will get offended over nothing. It is just an observation, not all observations are flattering to the individual, sad as that may be. If someone is fat and unkempt, when they used to not be, it will be noted and remarked upon, that is life.

 

[Judy from Boise]

To me it also is meaning an "attitude" of the person......some one who perhaps was very well groomed while in a dating relationship, but after the marriage really relaxed their standards, as if now that the spouse is "hooked" there is no need for bait.

 

[FireDancer]

Maybe gained alot of weight and not cared about excercise.
Not cared about what they wear. As far as maybe used to dress up now only wearing dirty sweats.
Maybe stopped wearing make up.
Dosen't bother with hair or wear it up.
Not care about hygene.

That's how I take it. If the 6-pack has morphed into a keg, it fits the bill.

All observations of fact aren't necessarily mean spirited. If someone goes in the other direction and something is mentioned I'm sure there would be no problem. It just is what it is.

ETA: I find it a bit strange that saying someone has let themselves go is judgmental while judging the person as mean spirited is not. I would judge that as hypocritical if I were the judgmental type.

 

[luvmy3]

That's how I take it. If the 6-pack has morphed into a keg, it fits the bill.

All observations of fact aren't necessarily mean spirited. If someone goes in the other direction and something is mentioned I'm sure there would be no problem. It just is what it is.

In that case, my dh has really let himself go

 

[peyjax]

I love that country song by George Straight that talks about a women who "let herself go" after her dh left her. You think he is going to say all the things mentioned in PP however he says she "let herself go" and do all the things she never would have done with him. Great song!

 

[*BTMRR*]

I'm really surprised that anyone thinks "she's sure let herself go" could possibly be an expression of caring about someone's well being. To me, it has such a negative connotation that it can only be catty. Maybe it's true that someone has "let herself go" (has stopped caring about their appearance)--but that doesn't mean it's okay to say it at all, and I don't think anyone would say it to someone's face, which pretty much tells me it's just a mean thing to say.

I think something like, "Mary just doesn't look herself lately at all--do you think something's going on with her?" is the expression of concern that real friends would use.

 

[RitaZ.]

ETA: I find it a bit strange that saying someone has let themselves go is judgmental while judging the person as mean spirited is not. I would judge that as hypocritical if I were the judgmental type.

Good point.

 

[Mysteria]

The term bugs the crap out of me. Nobody knows what's going on in a persons life. Maybe you (general you) don't know they just had triplets and only sleeps an hour here and there for example.

She may have "let herself go" because she is being selfless ansd taking care of everyone else in her life.

What bugs me is why is it always SHE let herself go. How often do we hear HE left himself go.

 

[FireDancer]

What bugs me is why is it always SHE let herself go. How often do we hear HE left himself go.

Exibit A:

In that case, my dh has really let himself go

I hear both. Of course most of the time I hear it from women about other women. As much as I hear that men are all about looks and appearance and blah blah blah I hear women put other women down way more then I hear men do it.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I take it as meaning about someone's personal appearance.

 

[RitaZ.]

Exibit A:



I hear both. Of course most of the time I hear it from women about other women. As much as I hear that men are all about looks and appearance and blah blah blah I hear women put other women down way more then I hear men do it.

I have to quote you again. Your assessment is totally accurate. Some women love to tear down other women.

 

[mom2boys77]

You put into words exactly what I was thinking!

It tells me that the people saying those things are mean-spirited, vacuous and shallow. If you consider them to be friends I'd be careful.

I wonder, did any of these viper tongues check to see if this person was going through something terrible? Could be sick? Lost a loved one? Family in financial trouble?

Not cool at all in my world.

 

[happygirl]

George Strait, has a great song. She let herself Go, check it out

 

[Gagirl69]

It tells me that the people saying those things are mean-spirited, vacuous and shallow. If you consider them to be friends I'd be careful.

I wonder, did any of these viper tongues check to see if this person was going through something terrible? Could be sick? Lost a loved one? Family in financial trouble?

Not cool at all in my world.

You took the words right out of my mouth!!

 

[FireDancer]

I wonder, did any of these viper tongues check to see if this person was going through something terrible? Could be sick? Lost a loved one? Family in financial trouble?

These all may be reasons why a person has let themselves go but it wouldn't change the underlying fact that they did so.

A person may sweat because they are nervous, scared, hot, or running a fever. Those are reasons (or causes) that don't change the underlying fact that the person is sweating.