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Idiom

loosen up

phrasal verb
/ˈluːsən ˈʌp/

Meanings

phrasal verb

To relax and feel or act less tense, nervous, or stiff.

loosen up: To relax and feel or act less tense, nervous, or stiff.
phrasal verb

To become less strict or formal; to allow more freedom in rules or behavior.

loosen up: To become less strict or formal; to allow more freedom in rules or behavior.
phrasal verb

To make the body more flexible or ready for activity, especially by warming up.

loosen up: To make the body more flexible or ready for activity, especially by warming up.

Definition

To relax and become less tense or strict.

To loosen up means to relax physically or mentally and stop being so tense. It can also mean to become less strict, formal, or controlled in behavior or rules. People often say it when someone seems nervous, stiff, or overly serious.

Examples

  • You need to loosen up and enjoy the weekend.
  • He finally loosened up after a few minutes of small talk.
  • The coach told us to loosen up before the game.
  • If you loosen up a bit, the presentation will feel more natural.
  • They should loosen up the dress code on Fridays.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use "loosen" alone when they mean relax; in this sense, English usually says "loosen up."

More phrasal verbs