to drain / let off / desist
Loading your saved state.
to drain
To let a liquid or gas escape from a container, a tire, or a system in a controlled way.
Der Mechaniker muss zuerst das alte Öl ablassen, bevor er neues einfüllt.
The mechanic first has to drain the old oil before putting in new oil.
to let off steam
To give vent to one's anger or frustration through talking or an activity in order to feel better afterward.
Nach einem stressigen Arbeitstag gehe ich ins Fitnessstudio, um Dampf abzulassen.
After a stressful day at work, I go to the gym to let off steam.
to desist from
To stop doing or pursuing something; to give up an intention or plan.
Trotz aller Warnungen wollte er nicht von seinem gefährlichen Plan ablassen.
Despite all the warnings, he did not want to desist from his dangerous plan.
'Ablassen' (to drain / let off / desist) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' is placed at the end of the sentence in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
Ich lasse das Badewasser ab.
I'm draining the bathwater.
The grammatical structure depends on the meaning. You can say 'etwas (Akk.) ablassen' (to drain something, e.g. water), 'Dampf (Akk.) ablassen' (to let off steam, fixed expression), or 'von etwas (Dat.) ablassen' (to give something up).
Der Bauer lässt das Wasser vom Feld ab.
The farmer drains the water from the field.
In the literal meaning, 'ablassen' is often used for liquids or gases. Typical combinations are 'Wasser ablassen' (to drain water, from the bathtub), 'Öl ablassen' (to drain oil, from the engine), or 'Luft ablassen' (to let air out, from a tire).
Vergiss nicht, die Luft aus der Matratze abzulassen, bevor du sie einpackst.
Don't forget to let the air out of the mattress before you pack it up.
'Dampf ablassen' (to let off steam) is a fixed idiom. It means releasing pent-up anger or frustration verbally or through an activity in order to feel relieved.
Er schrie laut, um endlich mal Dampf abzulassen.
He shouted loudly to finally let off some steam.
In the meaning 'aufgeben' (to give up), 'ablassen' is always used with the preposition 'von' and the dative. You desist from 'von einem Plan' (a plan), 'von einer Idee' (an idea), or even 'von einer Person' (a person).
Die Polizei ließ nicht von dem Verdächtigen ab.
The police did not let up on the suspect.
to omit / leave out
Auslassen and Dampf ablassen can both be connected with anger and frustration. If you take your anger out on someone, you direct it at an uninvolved person; if you let off steam, you release your frustration by talking or doing an activity. When the goal is simply to feel better without directing the anger at someone, ablassen is usually more suitable.
Nach dem Streit ließ sie beim Gespräch mit einer Freundin Dampf ab.
After the argument, she let off steam by talking to a friend.
Nach dem Streit ließ er seinen Ärger an seinem Kollegen aus.
After the argument, he took his anger out on his colleague.
