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LOOSEN UP
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to feel relaxed
Example:
A hot bath always relaxes me
Synonyms:
loosen up; make relaxed; relax; unlax; unstrain; unwind
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "loosen up" is one way to...):
affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)
Cause:
decompress; loosen up; relax; slow down; unbend; unwind (become less tense, rest, or take one's ease)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "loosen up"):
unbend (release from mental strain, tension, or formality)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The performance is likely to loosen up Sue
Sense 2
Meaning:
Become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
Example:
Let's all relax after a hard day's work
Synonyms:
decompress; loosen up; relax; slow down; unbend; unwind
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "loosen up" is one way to...):
change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "loosen up"):
vege out; vegetate (engage in passive relaxation)
sit back; take it easy (settle into a comfortable sitting position)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue loosen up
Sense 3
Meaning:
Make one's body limber or suppler by stretching, as if to prepare for strenuous physical activity
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "loosen up" is one way to...):
exercise; work out (do physical exercise)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sense 4
Meaning:
Cause to become unblocked
Example:
The medicine unstuffed my nose in minutes!
Synonyms:
loosen up; unstuff
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "loosen up" is one way to...):
disengage; free (free or remove obstruction from)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "loosen up"):
unblock (clear or remove an obstruction from)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 5
Meaning:
Become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner
Example:
our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group
Synonyms:
loosen up; relax
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "loosen up" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
