INDEX:
1. to relax
2. to make someone feel more relaxed
3. feeling relaxed
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ NERVOUS
↑ WORRIED/WORRYING
see also
↑ CALM
↑ COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER
↑ REST
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1. to relax
▷ relax /rɪˈlæks/ [intransitive verb]
to make yourself feel calmer, more comfortable, and less worried, by resting or doing something enjoyable :
▪ Just wait! In two weeks’ time I’ll be relaxing on a beach in Greece.
▪ Trained staff will look after your children, so that you can relax and enjoy yourself.
▪ For heaven’s sake Keith, will you just sit down and relax for five minutes!
▷ unwind /ʌnˈwaɪnd/ [intransitive verb]
to gradually relax after you have been working hard or worrying a lot :
▪ After a couple of drinks, Tom began to unwind.
▪ Set in spectacular countryside, the Shiga Hotel is the perfect place to unwind.
▪ The world motorcross champion likes nothing better than unwinding in front of the TV.
▷ take it easy /ˌteɪk ɪt ˈiːzi/ [verb phrase]
to do everything slowly and with less effort than usual so that you do not become worried or tired, especially because you are not feeling strong or healthy :
▪ Now that you’ve finished your exams, you can take it easy.
▪ I’m going to put my feet up and take it easy this afternoon.
take things easy
▪ Pete will still have to take things easy for while.
▪ My training schedule was very demanding last year, so I’m taking things a bit easier this year.
take it easy on yourself
▪ Take it easy on yourself for a few days. We’ll talk later.
▷ loosen up /ˌluːs ə n ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
if you loosen up, you become more relaxed and stop worrying about things :
▪ Hey, loosen up! It’s not worth getting upset about something she said.
▪ Our drama teacher would do crazy things, just to get us to loosen up some.
▷ chill out/chill /ˌtʃɪl ˈaʊt, tʃɪl/ [intransitive phrasal verb/intransitive verb] spoken informal
to relax and calm down, especially after doing something exciting :
▪ The main reason I’m going to Jamaica is so I can lie on the beach and chill out without being distracted.
▪ Would you like to come back to my place and just chill?
▷ let your hair down /ˌlet jɔːʳ ˈheəʳ daʊn/ [verb phrase] informal
to relax completely and enjoy yourself, especially in social situations :
▪ I spotted Juanita really letting her hair down on the dance floor.
▪ Chat rooms on the Internet are a place we can let our hair down and say what we think.
▷ let yourself go /ˌlet jɔːʳself ˈgəʊ/ [verb phrase]
to allow yourself to completely relax in a social situation, and not worry about what is polite, or about what other people may think :
▪ He’s quite scholarly, but he can be really funny when he lets himself go.
▪ Dick took me to the party and, for once, I let myself go completely.
2. to make someone feel more relaxed
▷ relax /rɪˈlæks/ [transitive verb]
▪ Meditation relaxes you and makes you feel more healthy.
▪ The drink relaxed him so much he fell asleep.
▷ put somebody at ease/make somebody feel at ease also put somebody at their ease British /ˌpʊt somebody ət ˈiːz, ˌmeɪk somebody fiːl ət ˈiːz, ˌpʊt somebody ət ðeər ˈiːz/ [verb phrase]
to make someone feel more relaxed, especially by talking to them in a calm, friendly way when they are in a difficult or worrying situation :
▪ I did my best to make him feel at ease before the interview began.
▪ Ginsberg had a talent for putting people instantly at ease.
▪ He had succeeded in putting her at her ease, despite her natural shyness.
▷ loosen up /ˌluːs ə n ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
if someone or something loosens you up, they make you feel happier and more relaxed about the things that are worrying you :
loosen up somebody
▪ Uncle Billy was a great preacher -- he sure could loosen a crowd up.
loosen somebody up
▪ At first, I just started drinking at parties, to help loosen me up.
▷ relaxing /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/ [adjective]
making you feel calm, comfortable, and not worried :
▪ a relaxing massage
▪ Tuscany is a good choice for a relaxing holiday.
▪ Do something relaxing before going to bed -- read a book, or take a hot bath.
3. feeling relaxed
▷ relaxed /rɪˈlækst/ [adjective]
feeling calm, comfortable, and not worried or annoyed :
▪ The people in Hawaii are so relaxed -- I could have stayed another fortnight.
▪ Looking relaxed and confident, the president answered a barrage of questions from the press.
feel relaxed
▪ I think people feel more relaxed wearing casual clothes.
▷ laid-back /ˌleɪd ˈbæk◂/ [adjective] informal
relaxed, and not easily worried or annoyed :
▪ My parents are pretty laid-back and don’t mind me staying out late.
▪ He seems like a laid-back kind of a guy.
▪ a laid-back lifestyle
▷ easy-going /ˌiːzi ˈgəʊɪŋ◂/ [adjective] informal
happy and relaxed, and not often annoyed or angry :
▪ You were always so relaxed and easy-going. It was one of the things I liked about you.
▪ William did his best to maintain an easy-going, friendly relationship with everyone at camp.
▷ be/feel at ease /biː, fiːl ət ˈiːz/ [verb phrase]
feeling relaxed in a situation in which most people might feel a little nervous, uncomfortable, or anxious :
▪ I’ve always felt completely at ease among the Palestinians.
be/feel at ease with
▪ He was surprised to find himself so at ease with her father.
▪ After six months in the job, I was starting to feel more at ease with the kids.
▷ be/feel comfortable /biː, fiːl ˈkʌmftəb ə lǁ-ˈkʌmfərt-/ [verb phrase]
happy and without worries, especially because you are with someone you like and trust or because you are in a situation you are used to :
be/feel comfortable with
▪ A lot of our female patients are not comfortable with the idea of a male doctor.
be/feel comfortable doing something
▪ When choosing a baby-sitter, look for someone both you and your child feel comfortable with.
▪ Would you be comfortable using this type of machinery?
▪ This is an emotional issue, which most people aren’t comfortable talking about.
▷ feel at home /ˌfiːl ət ˈhəʊm/ [verb phrase]
to feel relaxed because you are in a place or situation similar to one that you know very well :
▪ As in your previous job, we also use computers a lot -- so you should feel right at home here.
feel at home with
▪ He was fond of using his hands and felt at home with machinery.
feel at home doing something
▪ Right now, I feel more at home writing for the stage rather than film.
▷ uninhibited /ˌʌnɪnˈhɪbɪtəd◂, ˌʌnɪnˈhɪbətəd◂/ [adjective]
very relaxed in the company of other people, and not at all shy about showing your true feelings and opinions :
▪ Her acting is completely spontaneous and uninhibited.
▪ The Trobrand islanders are happy, sexually uninhibited people.
uninhibited about
▪ The boys were quite uninhibited about performing in front of strangers.