loosen

allentare

Rendere qualcosa meno stretto o meno saldamente fissato.

In inglese semplice: To make something less tight or less firmly fixed.

• Please loosen this knot.
• He loosened his tie after work.
• Can you loosen the lid for me?

Sinonimi: slacken, undo

Contrari: tighten

Espressioni comuni: loosen a belt, loosen a screw, loosen your grip

rilassarsi, sciogliersi

Diventare più tranquillo, socievole o meno preoccupato, soprattutto in presenza di altre persone.

In inglese semplice: To become calmer, friendlier, or less worried, especially around other people.

• Try to loosen up and enjoy yourself.
• He loosened up after meeting the other guests.
• Music helps everyone loosen up.

Come si usa: loosen up (She began to loosen up as the party continued.)

Sinonimi: relax, unwind

Contrari: tense up

Espressioni comuni: loosen up, loosen up around someone

sciogliersi, rilassarsi

Detto di muscoli o articolazioni, diventare meno rigidi e muoversi più facilmente.

In inglese semplice: If muscles or joints do this, they become less stiff and can move more easily.

• My muscles slowly began to loosen.
• Her stiff joints loosened up during the walk.
• These stretches help your shoulders loosen up.

Come si usa: loosen up (My shoulders loosen up after a few gentle stretches.)

Sinonimi: relax, limber up

Contrari: stiffen

Espressioni comuni: loosen up, muscles loosen, joints loosen up

sciogliere la lingua

Rendere qualcuno disposto a parlare, soprattutto di cose che di solito tiene per sé.

In inglese semplice: To make someone willing to talk, especially about things they usually keep private.

• A little wine loosened his tongue.
• Her kind questions loosened the shy boy’s tongue.
• The promise of a reward loosened several tongues.

Come si usa: loosen someone’s tongue (The friendly atmosphere loosened his tongue.)

Espressioni comuni: loosen someone’s tongue, loosen tongues