loosen up

phrasal verb

Pronunciation: ˈluːsən ʌp

Definition

Become more relaxed, less tense, or more flexible.

Examples

• She needed a few minutes to loosen up before she felt comfortable enough to start the presentation.

• The coach told the players to jog around the field to loosen up their legs.

• A glass of wine often helps him loosen up at social gatherings.

Synonyms of loosen up

Words with a similar meaning to loosen up:

• relax
• unwind
• decompress
• mellow out

Antonyms of loosen up

Words with the opposite meaning to loosen up:

• tense up
• stiffen

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