Construction · C1 · Neutral · common after negative or limiting statements
let alone
Introduce something that is even less possible, likely, or true than what has just been mentioned.
a kamoli
Memory scene
Picture a staircase of difficulty. If you cannot reach the low step, the higher step is out of the question.
How it sounds
let uh-LOHN
Alone carries the contrast.
Build the sentence
negative or limiting statement + let alone + harder / less likely thing
Use it
She barely has time to cook, let alone host a dinner party.
Hosting is more demanding than cooking.
He did not apologize, let alone offer to pay for the damage.
The second action would go considerably further.
Watch out
Put the easier or more basic item first and the more surprising or demanding item after let alone. Keep the grammar parallel where possible.
Nearby language
The closest alternative in this construction.
A more conversational alternative in many contexts.
Usually adds another point; it does not require the same scale of impossibility.
Make it yours
Nemam vremena ni da odgovorim na mejlove, a kamoli da pripremim celu prezentaciju.