lighten up

Idioms and Phrases

Become or cause to become less serious or gloomy, and more cheerful. For example, Lighten up, Sam—it'll turn out all right . This slangy expression transfers reducing a physical weight to a change of mood or attitude.

Example Sentences

No, this is more the fatigue of frustration — I want to like this show so much but it refuses to lighten up enough to let me in.

From Los Angeles Times

The messages included photos and said, “Next time don’t massage too hard. You need to lighten up. I have bruises.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If companies lighten up on things that are ineffective, that could be a good outcome,” Dr. Dobbin said, noting that mandatory anti-bias trainings have been shown to sometimes even worsen bias.

From New York Times

A subsequent conversation between the men implicates films about police killings in Black death spectacle, but stops short of actual critique — unless the message is something like, “lighten up and cash in.”

From Los Angeles Times

We all need the occasional reminder to lighten up; after all, it’s just a recipe.

From Salon

Related Words

• acquiesce
• capitulate
• cave in
• come around
• comply
• ease off
• give in
• give up
• let go
• quit
• relax
• slacken
• soften
• subside