Difference between Let go of someone and Let someone go

let go of someone—stop holding a person:

• He shouted at the cops, “Let go of me! You have to let go of me!”

let someone go—

1. allow smb. to leave:

• Taking the man prisoner might jeopardize the mission, so he decides to let the prisoner go.

2. discharge a person from employment:

• Since we are going away for the summer, we will have to let our housekeeper go.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase let oneself go—

1. throw off restraint in one’s behavior; act in defiance of social conventions:

• At a party, when Smith lets himself go, he can be quite amusing.

2. neglect one’s appearance, personal habits, etc.:

• She’s terribly depressed, but tries not “to let herself go,” keeps young-looking.