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Phrasal verb

loosen up

phrasal verb
/ˈluːsən ʌp/

Meanings

phrasal verb

To relax and stop being tense, nervous, or overly serious.

Visual cue for loosen up
phrasal verb

To make your body or muscles less stiff, especially by moving or warming up.

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phrasal verb

To make something less tight or more flexible by reducing tension or pressure.

Image generation queued.

Definition

To loosen up means to relax and become less tense or stiff.

To loosen up is to become more relaxed, either in your body or in your mood. It can describe warming up your muscles before activity or becoming less nervous and more open in a social situation. It often suggests moving from tight, serious, or anxious to more comfortable and flexible.

Examples

  • Try to loosen up before the interview.
  • He needs to loosen up and enjoy the party.
  • I did some stretches to loosen up my shoulders.
  • After a few minutes of walking, my legs started to loosen up.