loosen

緩める

物の締まりや固定の強さを弱くする。

やさしい英語で： 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?

類義語： slacken, undo

反対語： tighten

よく使う表現： loosen a belt, loosen a screw, loosen your grip

リラックスする、打ち解ける

特に人といるとき、緊張や不安が減り、親しみやすくなる。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： loosen up (She began to loosen up as the party continued.)

類義語： relax, unwind

反対語： tense up

よく使う表現： loosen up, loosen up around someone

ほぐれる、柔らかくなる

筋肉や関節のこわばりが減り、動きやすくなる。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： loosen up (My shoulders loosen up after a few gentle stretches.)

類義語： relax, limber up

反対語： stiffen

よく使う表現： loosen up, muscles loosen, joints loosen up

口を軽くさせる

普段は秘密にしていることなどを、人が進んで話すようにする。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： loosen someone’s tongue (The friendly atmosphere loosened his tongue.)

よく使う表現： loosen someone’s tongue, loosen tongues