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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3515788.stman interesting article in it's own right, but I'm curious about this phrase: "But it was on 4 November, as Active Region 486 was being carried out of sight around the Sun's western limb by solar rotation, that the most extraordinary flare let rip." let rip? I have used this many times, also "let her rip", but what's the origin of this? 
formerly known as etaoin...
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I have used this many times, also "let her rip", but what's the origin of this?
Where were you when you used it, etaoin?
I think "flare let rip" pretty much captures it all.
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Pooh-Bah
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>>but I'm curious about the phrase...'let rip'<<
I'm with you, etaoin. The phrase is familiar, but the use is not. It may be a question of agency, 'to let rip,' 'let her rip,' 'to rip a f*rt,' all involve the action of an agent on something else. In this case, that something else is, probably unintentionally, given as the agent itself 'a flare let [itself] rip,' rather than, '[the sun] let rip [a flare]'. Or?
But the image is approriate. Here are the results of a quick Sherlock search:
\Rip cord\ (A["e]ronautics) A cord by which the gas bag of a balloon may be ripped open for a limited distance to release the gas quickly and so cause immediate descent.
to rap out, to utter hastily and violently; as, to rip out an oath. [Colloq.] See To rap out, under Rap,
2. To hasten. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman.
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Carpal Tunnel
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thanks, insel, that's starting to get somewhere. I hadn't thought of the rap-rip(rip-rap!) idea. or rip cord.
it occurs to me that the "let" is almost more curious than the rip, and I think you've gotten to that with 'a flare let [itself] rip,' hmmm. there's a given in there that I hadn't seen.
grapho, I have used it as in the example and also as insel demonstrates.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Eta:
While you know what the author is trying to get across, in my view it's lousy English. "let loose" would have been effective, as would "exploded," "erupted," or just plain "blew."
"Let 'er rip" was, I presume, derived from rip as to go at an unspecified high speed.
Ted
TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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lousy Englishyeah, it seemed a bit pesante for a science article.
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Carpal Tunnel
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You might want to remember that the author was British. This usage does have a bit of the British feel to it.
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Carpal Tunnel
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And what is the basis for the assumpting that the thing which will rip is female?
Let her rip.
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Carpal Tunnel
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good point. I suppose is the same old assumpcision about boats, cars, etc., being women... 
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Carpal Tunnel
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I was mildly amused by the gas-bag plus parachute item.
When early pilots had to "bail out" with parachutes,
there was a "rip cord" they had to pull to eject the small chute which could drag the big chute out of the pack.
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