to let 20,000 go

[Allifathima]

"He stated that his decision to let 20,000 go was entirely amoral."
What is the meaning for this sentence?
What is the meaning of the phrase - 'to let 20,000 go'?

[Alan]

If we're talking about people? this could mean 'release' 'set free'.

Alan
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[Beeesneees]

It could also mean t'release' in the sense that he is responsible for their employment and they are being made redundant or forced to retire.

(20,000 is a large number within that context though. It would probably relate to a politician ordering nationwide cuts, rather than a single business.)
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Cheers m' dears!

[Allifathima]

Can I say:
"He stated that his decision to (release)/(set free) 20,000 was entirely amoral."

[Alan]

Hi,

That is possible but I would use either 'completely' or 'utterly' instead of 'entirely'.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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