loosen

desserrer, détendre

Rendre quelque chose moins serré ou moins solidement fixé.

En anglais simple : 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?

Synonymes : slacken, undo

Contraires : tighten

Expressions courantes : loosen a belt, loosen a screw, loosen your grip

se détendre, se décontracter

Devenir plus calme, plus ouvert ou moins inquiet, surtout en présence d’autres personnes.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : loosen up (She began to loosen up as the party continued.)

Synonymes : relax, unwind

Contraires : tense up

Expressions courantes : loosen up, loosen up around someone

se détendre, s’assouplir

Pour les muscles ou les articulations, devenir moins raides et pouvoir bouger plus facilement.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : loosen up (My shoulders loosen up after a few gentle stretches.)

Synonymes : relax, limber up

Contraires : stiffen

Expressions courantes : loosen up, muscles loosen, joints loosen up

délier la langue

Amener quelqu’un à parler volontiers, surtout de choses qu’il garde habituellement pour lui.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : loosen someone’s tongue (The friendly atmosphere loosened his tongue.)

Expressions courantes : loosen someone’s tongue, loosen tongues