mellow out

Idioms and Phrases

Become genial or pleasant, calm down, relax, as in The teacher mellowed out when they explained what had happened . This expression uses mellow in the sense of “ripening,” with the connotation of softness and sweetness. [ Slang ; late 1900s]

Example Sentences

Even the Pokémon noises are gently mellowed out in contrast to the coarser, more caterwauling sounds of the games; here the creatures purr, cry, coo and sigh like docile house pets.

From New York Times

“The older you get, the more it really wears on your system. I have very few friends left who are really hardcore drinkers.… They just mellowed out.”

From Salon

The sour sting of heartbreak is mellowed out by the sweet comfort of friendship; a peppery sprinkle of humor adds brightness to a heavy, serious broth.

From New York Times

“They attacked the trans community last legislative session and now that has mellowed out a little bit. So now they’re going to the next thing — drag queens.”

From Washington Post

This makes hemp feed a potential tool to mellow out cattle during transportation, weaning, and other stressful situations, he says.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

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