French Phrase
Laisse les autres bosser.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Let the others work.’ It is a short, informal way of telling someone to stop interfering and allow the other people to do their job.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings – among colleagues, friends, or teammates – when you want to remind someone to step back and let the rest of the group focus on their tasks. It’s not appropriate for very formal or written contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Laisselesautresbosser
Laisse (imperative)
‘Laisse’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *laisser* (to let/allow). It is used to give a direct command.
les (definite article)
‘les’ is the plural definite article, here introducing the noun phrase ‘les autres’ (the others).
autres (adjective)
‘autres’ functions as a plural adjective meaning ‘other’ and agrees in number with the noun it modifies.
bosser (colloquial verb)
‘bosser’ is informal slang for *travailler* (to work). It is common in spoken French but avoided in formal writing.
🗨In Conversation
Laisse les autres bosser.
Let the others work.
D'accord, je m'occupe de ça plus tard.
Alright, I’ll take care of it later.
✕Common Mistakes
Laisser les autres bosser.
Missing the imperative ending – you need ‘Laisse’ to give a command.
Les autres laisse bosser.
Subject‑verb agreement is wrong; the verb must agree with ‘tu’ (you), not with ‘les autres’.
Laisse les autres à bosser.
The preposition *à* is unnecessary; *bosser* directly follows the object.
↔Alternatives
Laisse les autres travailler.
Let the others work.
Ne dérange pas les autres pendant qu'ils travaillent.
Don’t disturb the others while they’re working.
Permets aux autres de travailler.
Allow the others to work.
Cultural Tip
‘Bosser’ is a slang verb that appears a lot in everyday conversation, especially among younger speakers. In a formal meeting or in written French you would replace it with *travailler*. Also, the tone matters: saying it sharply can sound rude, while a friendly tone makes it sound like a helpful reminder.