Definition of loosen in English:

loosen

verb ˈluːs(ə)nˈlus(ə)n

[with object]

1Make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm.
使松开
loosen your collar and tie
解开领口，松开领带。
Example sentencesExamples
- She shook her head, before reaching up and loosening her hair free of its holder.
- She shook her head in acknowledgment, and went to Glory, loosening the tied reins.
- One should cushion the fall, cradle the head, remove glasses, and loosen tight clothes.
- My brain slowly began to click into gear and I started thinking about loosening his collar and laying him down.
- ‘Uh, thanks,’ Bella mumbled, trying to loosen her dress because it suddenly felt tight.
- With a last look that the door and windows were shuttered tight, I loosened my shirt.
- He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt.
- His fingers threaded through her tight chignon and loosened it.
- The officer swallowed and loosened his collar slightly.
- I was unable to loosen the tight wire, it was probably a pliant clothing hanger.
- To balance the tension, loosen the tightest thread first
- If the training collar is too tight, the pressure will not be relieved when you loosen the leash.
- He loosened his tie and undid the first button of his collar so he wouldn't suffocate.
- He puts down his briefcase, loosens his collar and falls into his leather chair.
- He was reaching up to loosen the collar of his shirt when he noticed his mother and younger sibling coming down the stairs.
- ‘Okay, okay,’ gasped John, loosening his collar so he could get a better breath.
- The girl to our right, in complementary pinks and peach colors, lifts her face as she loosens the tight black collar around her neck.
- The wind tried tirelessly to loosen her tight pony-tail, but only resulted in removing a few strands to hang by her ears, decorated with gold hoops.
- I watched him loosen his collar, and walk over to a stool where his violin case was, open.
- Next, he loosened the collar of his white dress shirt.
Synonyms
make slack, slacken, slack, unstick
unfasten, detach, release, disconnect, undo, unclasp, unlatch, unbolt
unfasten, undo, release, unhook, slacken, let out
1. 1.1 Relax (one's grip or muscles)
  放松（紧抓的手，肌肉）
  he loosened his hold so she could pull her arms free
  他松了松手，于是她得以把胳膊拔出来。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Expression blank and thoughts and emotions carefully controlled, she loosened her tight hold upon her fan.
  He loosened his grip and turned me around to sit on the bed.
  She loosened her grip and kissed the top of his head.
  When muscles are loosened and the circulation is good, good health will prevail and there will inevitably be less chance of any disfunction.
  To ease the aches and pains of the office, ask your partner to gently rub your shoulders, or try one of the exercises below to get your blood flowing and loosen your muscles.
  Instead, he adopted a confused look and loosened his grip.
  He turned to her without loosening his grip around her petite figure and displayed a mischievous grin.
  Emma immediately relaxed and loosened her grip on my leg.
  Bandit loosened his grip, relaxing his arms until his hold on her turned into a real embrace.
  That had done it, his grip lost its intensity and though it still remained firm, he loosened his hold greatly.
  Having a stretch loosens your muscles and relaxes your body.
  Aerobic exercise helps to loosen tense muscles.
  He, in turn, loosened his grip and moved his hands to my hips.
  Anna expelled a breath of relief which served to loosen her muscles and help her to relax.
  Chris, who was still holding onto his best friend, gave me a questionable look before loosening his grip.
  ‘Ok,’ Amber replied, stepping back and loosening her grip on him before letting go completely.
  Lifeguards flushed the shark's gills with fresh water to loosen its grip.
  Yoga and breathing exercises help in getting rid of the spasm by loosening the muscles and maintaining balance of ‘prana’ throughout the body.
  Lucas only hung his head and loosened his grip on the pole in response.
  For decades, it was accepted that every athlete should stretch before engaging in any exercise or sport to loosen the muscles and protect them from injury.
  Synonyms
  become slack, slacken, become loose, let go, unbind, ease
  work loose, work free
  weaken, relax, slacken, loose, lessen, reduce, moderate, diminish, soften, alleviate, dilute
2. 1.2no object Become relaxed or less tight.
  变得放松，变得较为不绷紧
  the stiffness in his shoulders had loosened
  他肩部的僵直感减轻了。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He pulled me into a hug, and I could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders loosen.
  At the end of the holiday, I was starting to feel the knots in my shoulders loosen and my mind start to clear after all the drama and stress of the past few months.
  He waited for a reaction from her, watching as her back tensed and then loosen as her shoulders sagged.
  Amy's shoulders loosened and Hart gently trod back to sit quietly by her side.
  Relax your shoulders by taking a deep breath and then focus on letting your shoulders drop and loosen.
  I stretched, feeling my muscles slowly loosen.
  She held on and he squeezed harder, until she gasped in pain and her fingers loosened.
  Her head rested on his shoulder and her body loosened.
  Then, almost instantly, she let her shoulders drop and her body loosen, assuming a casual pose in the middle of the room.
  He saw her shoulders loosen and her frown disappear.
  Then, my shoulders loosened and my eyes looked grateful to the figure before me.
  The attachment device of the control cover will therefore not wear, and will not loosen over time.
  With vinyl windows, avoid frames that are held together with screws because they tend to loosen over time.
  Holding the paper she let her fingers loosen, and she dropped it.
  I felt my shoulders loosen, a tension I hadn't been aware of leeching out of my limbs as I sagged and leaned back into the attention, letting her hand tilt my head as she needed.
  Synonyms
  relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid
3. 1.3 (with reference to the bowels) make or become relaxed prior to excretion.
  使（肠道）在排泄前畅通；（肠道）在排泄前变得畅通
  no object his bowels loosened in terror
  惊恐之下，他大便失禁。
  Example sentencesExamples
  ‘Er, hi Corina’, I greeted her meekly, my bowels loosening slightly.
  Often, the surging of hormones before and during the menstrual cycle can cause your bowels to loosen.
  High doses of vitamin C may loosen the bowels, though this effect invariably abates once the dose is suitably reduced.
  It's interesting how a year ago the very notion of smallpox made my bowels loosen; now I'm thinking about the proper approach the media should take.
  Prescribe tablets that will loosen their bowel locks.
2Make less strict.
his main mistake was to loosen monetary policy
他最主要的错误是放松了货币政策。
Example sentencesExamples
- It is clear that the present Governor loosened monetary policy earlier than his predecessor would have done.
- As evident at the conference, both business circles and scholars are expecting the government to loosen the ‘no haste, be patient’ policy.
- There is currently no need for any further rate increases, but the Bank must resist the temptation to loosen monetary policy any further until it becomes clear that inflation has been tamed again.
- If the government simply adds to the deficit, inflation could be triggered by this further loosening of fiscal policy.
- The anticipated loosening of spending policy received mixed reaction from analysts Wednesday.
- According to her, the government's decision to loosen rice import policies had reduced the prices of unhusked rice.
- In this respect, Britain is better placed than most, since base rates of 4.75% give the Bank of England ample leeway to loosen monetary policy.
- Local traffic authorities have maintained that the city is trying to loosen its policies regarding private car ownership.
- Will this direct reporting be enough to loosen the strictures of centralization and create the accountability and openness that is needed?
- However, the deals are a sign that the major music labels are increasingly loosening their licensing policies for digital music.
- Indeed, many economies have found themselves having to tighten, rather than loosen, fiscal policy in response to economic slowdown.
- The city's only gay nightclub, is currently loosening its entrance policy and opening up their doors to the straight public.
- Strong regulations that limited overtime in northern continental Europe are being loosened in response to EU policy.
- The loosening of that policy for terrorism does create a grey area, but it's a sensible political tactic.
- Instead of running more public-sector deficits and loosening monetary policy, there should be a radical overhaul of taxes.
- But the most problematic aspect of his plan has been his role in loosening the criteria for accepting monetary donations to the Institution.
- That reign only came to an end in the late 1960s as divorce laws loosened and Americans began pulling off their wedding rings at record rates.
- And are they suggesting that a massive influx of asylum seekers would suddenly appear over the horizon if policy were loosened?
- It will tighten regulation in some countries but loosen it in others that previously had stricter laws.
- The cost of borrowing has come down significantly with a loosening of monetary policy in the hope that injecting more cash into the economy would help revive struggling businesses.
1. 2.1 Make (a connection) less strong.
  使（联系，关系）不那么紧密
  he wanted to strengthen rather than loosen union links
  他希望加强，而不是放松工会的联系。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Without the basic repair capacity and priority, a specific induction can wait, loosening the link between the operating command and depot-level maintenance costs.
  Partisan politicization loosens the connection of the military to the American people.
  This loosens the link between creditor and borrower.
  Interest groups are reluctant to associate closely or openly with political parties, and the Labour party's connections with the trade unions have been loosened.
  He was on the French interministerial committee that eventually rejected confederation as likely to loosen political links between France and the new states.
  The connection between signifier and signified is loosened and exposed as arbitrary, allowing for alternative interpretations of the sense.
  She wants to reform the stagnant economy, loosen union power and bring down taxes in a power-sharing Cabinet with the business-friendly FDP party.
  Globalization socially and culturally at very practical levels relativizes national identities and loosens the links between the individual self and nation.
  How would you link his notion of the time-image, with its loosening of the sensory-motor connection, to the jazz-image?
  He provides an account of racial discrimination that loosens the link between it and injustice, but still preserves some connection.
  No lasting foundations for bilateral cooperation and the presence of disputes resulting from this loss of common ground loosen trade links between the states.
  There are alternative actions which we in the North may demand of our governments in lieu of invasion, and these all tend towards loosening, rather than strengthening, the grip of empire over the South.

Phrases

loosen someone's tongue

Make someone talk freely.
使某人无拘束（或无顾忌）地说话
three quarters of a bottle of wine had loosened her tongue
Example sentencesExamples
- Perhaps his impending retirement loosened his tongue.
- Apparently, it does not take much to loosen your tongue.
- The wine loosens his tongue and he begins to boast of his conquests of women at shady resorts.
- I guess being tired sort of loosened my tongue, because I replied, ‘She left me last night.’
- He pre-empts the question with an invitation to his office ‘for a glass ‘, and the red wine dispensed liberally by his trusted assistant, Adrian, soon loosens his tongue.’
- We'll just have to give you something that will loosen your tongue.
- I felt sleepy and relaxed now, and that loosened my tongue and my senses.
- The confrontation, however, seemed to have loosened Katrina 's tongue.
- He was slightly drunk and perhaps realised that the alcohol had loosened his tongue a little too much.
- All he needed was a few tots of spirits to loosen his tongue and tell one of his adventures, some pleasant, others tragic.

Phrasal Verbs

loosen up

1Relax one's muscles before taking exercise.
arrive early to loosen up and hit some practice shots
Example sentencesExamples
- When you see a golfer taking a practice swing they are not just loosening up, they are telling their subconscious what they want to happen.
- While almost everyone else on the team is getting pounded through the course of a game, the kicker wanders the sideline in a clean uniform, occasionally loosening up by kicking balls into a net.
- The dancers and musicians loosened up for their collaboration through exercises such as call-and-response sessions, in which a musician would improvise a phrase and a dancer would respond with movement.
- Stretching should always precede any form of exercise in order to warm and loosen up the muscles and to avoid injury.
- With no practice swings or loosening up the Fulford ace let fly, despite being racked by pain in his neck and shoulders.
- When she got up out of bed and did some get exercising to loosen up, she started to get ready for the council that afternoon.
- While the rest of the Connecticut players merely loosen up, stretching the muscles used on their jump shots, Brown instantly goes to work.
- Since the practice was held in Dalkey, a little less than 2 miles from the house, I decided to run there so I could loosen up and relax a bit.
- She took a few steps away from the others and then started doing a few exercises to loosen up her cramped muscles.
- There he is, at the end of the runway, preparing, psyching, wobbling thighs, flexing fingers, loosening up, imagining his jump, imaging he's going to jump right out of the stadium.
- First classes were for beginners and those present were introduced to the foundation exercises to allow body muscles to loosen up.
- Precede your weight training with a light whole-body cardio warm-up as usual, and do some light sets of the first exercise to loosen up your muscles.
1. 1.1Become mentally relaxed.
  they taught me to have fun and loosen up
  Example sentencesExamples
  He seemed quite nervous at first, but loosened up as the gig progressed.
  Yet after he's got used to addressing 10,000 people he loosens up and gets right back into his lovable ‘isn't everything great?’
  I loosened up a little and settled back into the chair.
  ‘People assume they're loosening up because they're drinking alcohol,’ he says.
  But as the gig progressed he seemed to loosen up a bit and started making eye contact with audience members, and he flashed a few smiles in various directions.
  Breathing and bonding exercises follow and as we all got to know each other, loosening up in the Greek heat, we risk the sort of gentle ribaldry and wicked banter that rapidly promotes friendships and constant hilarity.
  In fact, he seems to have loosened up, as if he has less to prove.
  This time, he turned his back on his usual references, loosened up and had great fun with colour and pattern.
  Gawky and terrified during her first attempt to dance, she gradually began to loosen up.
  As a blogger, I'd like to see him loosen up a bit: a few more shorter, less self-consciously ‘important’ pieces wouldn't go amiss.
  As more drinks are consumed, I begin to loosen up.
  ‘She really loosens up then,’ says her husband smiling as he recalls the stress-free existence they enjoy away from athletics.
  He just wants everything to be perfect, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with this meglomaniacal edge, sometimes you wish he was able to loosen up a little and enjoy the show like everyone else.
  Golf is a game especially suited to loosening up, calming down and enjoying the company of friends in a leisurely landscape.
  After a couple of pints we began to loosen up and we had a great night talking rubbish and joking and laughing.
  He has been guarded and cautious in his tactics and his dealings with the press so far but perhaps next season, if he has graduated with honours, he will loosen up and begin to show how much he is enjoying life in Scotland.
  She lacks her gift for self-deprecating comedy and she needs to loosen up on screen but she has an engaging manner.
  ‘Come on, George, loosen up,’ he wrote, ‘swing man… be grateful, stop complaining.’
  I had loosened up a bit too and started chatting a lot more freely to more of the other guys.
  If people do agree to be interviewed, they usually do so in a co-operative way and loosen up after initial anxiety about the microphone.
  Synonyms
  relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid

Definition of loosen in US English:

loosen

verbˈlo͞os(ə)nˈlus(ə)n

[with object]

1Make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm.
使松开
loosen your collar and tie
解开领口，松开领带。
Example sentencesExamples
- I was unable to loosen the tight wire, it was probably a pliant clothing hanger.
- She shook her head in acknowledgment, and went to Glory, loosening the tied reins.
- My brain slowly began to click into gear and I started thinking about loosening his collar and laying him down.
- Next, he loosened the collar of his white dress shirt.
- I watched him loosen his collar, and walk over to a stool where his violin case was, open.
- He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt.
- The girl to our right, in complementary pinks and peach colors, lifts her face as she loosens the tight black collar around her neck.
- One should cushion the fall, cradle the head, remove glasses, and loosen tight clothes.
- He puts down his briefcase, loosens his collar and falls into his leather chair.
- He loosened his tie and undid the first button of his collar so he wouldn't suffocate.
- ‘Okay, okay,’ gasped John, loosening his collar so he could get a better breath.
- To balance the tension, loosen the tightest thread first
- She shook her head, before reaching up and loosening her hair free of its holder.
- The wind tried tirelessly to loosen her tight pony-tail, but only resulted in removing a few strands to hang by her ears, decorated with gold hoops.
- The officer swallowed and loosened his collar slightly.
- His fingers threaded through her tight chignon and loosened it.
- If the training collar is too tight, the pressure will not be relieved when you loosen the leash.
- ‘Uh, thanks,’ Bella mumbled, trying to loosen her dress because it suddenly felt tight.
- He was reaching up to loosen the collar of his shirt when he noticed his mother and younger sibling coming down the stairs.
- With a last look that the door and windows were shuttered tight, I loosened my shirt.
Synonyms
make slack, slacken, slack, unstick
unfasten, undo, release, unhook, slacken, let out
1. 1.1 Make more lax.
  放松
  his main mistake was to loosen monetary policy
  他最主要的错误是放松了货币政策。
  a loosening of the benefit rules
  补助金发放规定的放宽。
  Example sentencesExamples
  The anticipated loosening of spending policy received mixed reaction from analysts Wednesday.
  The city's only gay nightclub, is currently loosening its entrance policy and opening up their doors to the straight public.
  It is clear that the present Governor loosened monetary policy earlier than his predecessor would have done.
  Instead of running more public-sector deficits and loosening monetary policy, there should be a radical overhaul of taxes.
  According to her, the government's decision to loosen rice import policies had reduced the prices of unhusked rice.
  But the most problematic aspect of his plan has been his role in loosening the criteria for accepting monetary donations to the Institution.
  The cost of borrowing has come down significantly with a loosening of monetary policy in the hope that injecting more cash into the economy would help revive struggling businesses.
  There is currently no need for any further rate increases, but the Bank must resist the temptation to loosen monetary policy any further until it becomes clear that inflation has been tamed again.
  As evident at the conference, both business circles and scholars are expecting the government to loosen the ‘no haste, be patient’ policy.
  Strong regulations that limited overtime in northern continental Europe are being loosened in response to EU policy.
  Will this direct reporting be enough to loosen the strictures of centralization and create the accountability and openness that is needed?
  In this respect, Britain is better placed than most, since base rates of 4.75% give the Bank of England ample leeway to loosen monetary policy.
  And are they suggesting that a massive influx of asylum seekers would suddenly appear over the horizon if policy were loosened?
  Local traffic authorities have maintained that the city is trying to loosen its policies regarding private car ownership.
  However, the deals are a sign that the major music labels are increasingly loosening their licensing policies for digital music.
  Indeed, many economies have found themselves having to tighten, rather than loosen, fiscal policy in response to economic slowdown.
  It will tighten regulation in some countries but loosen it in others that previously had stricter laws.
  The loosening of that policy for terrorism does create a grey area, but it's a sensible political tactic.
  If the government simply adds to the deficit, inflation could be triggered by this further loosening of fiscal policy.
  That reign only came to an end in the late 1960s as divorce laws loosened and Americans began pulling off their wedding rings at record rates.
2. 1.2 Relax (one's grip or muscles)
  放松（紧抓的手，肌肉）
  he loosened his hold so she could pull her arms free
  他松了松手，于是她得以把胳膊拔出来。
  Example sentencesExamples
  When muscles are loosened and the circulation is good, good health will prevail and there will inevitably be less chance of any disfunction.
  Lucas only hung his head and loosened his grip on the pole in response.
  Aerobic exercise helps to loosen tense muscles.
  Chris, who was still holding onto his best friend, gave me a questionable look before loosening his grip.
  That had done it, his grip lost its intensity and though it still remained firm, he loosened his hold greatly.
  ‘Ok,’ Amber replied, stepping back and loosening her grip on him before letting go completely.
  Expression blank and thoughts and emotions carefully controlled, she loosened her tight hold upon her fan.
  He turned to her without loosening his grip around her petite figure and displayed a mischievous grin.
  He loosened his grip and turned me around to sit on the bed.
  Having a stretch loosens your muscles and relaxes your body.
  He, in turn, loosened his grip and moved his hands to my hips.
  For decades, it was accepted that every athlete should stretch before engaging in any exercise or sport to loosen the muscles and protect them from injury.
  Bandit loosened his grip, relaxing his arms until his hold on her turned into a real embrace.
  She loosened her grip and kissed the top of his head.
  Yoga and breathing exercises help in getting rid of the spasm by loosening the muscles and maintaining balance of ‘prana’ throughout the body.
  Emma immediately relaxed and loosened her grip on my leg.
  To ease the aches and pains of the office, ask your partner to gently rub your shoulders, or try one of the exercises below to get your blood flowing and loosen your muscles.
  Instead, he adopted a confused look and loosened his grip.
  Lifeguards flushed the shark's gills with fresh water to loosen its grip.
  Anna expelled a breath of relief which served to loosen her muscles and help her to relax.
  Synonyms
  become slack, slacken, become loose, let go, unbind, ease
  weaken, relax, slacken, loose, lessen, reduce, moderate, diminish, soften, alleviate, dilute
3. 1.3no object Become relaxed or less tight.
  变得放松，变得较为不绷紧
  the stiffness in his shoulders had loosened
  他肩部的僵直感减轻了。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Holding the paper she let her fingers loosen, and she dropped it.
  With vinyl windows, avoid frames that are held together with screws because they tend to loosen over time.
  He saw her shoulders loosen and her frown disappear.
  She held on and he squeezed harder, until she gasped in pain and her fingers loosened.
  He waited for a reaction from her, watching as her back tensed and then loosen as her shoulders sagged.
  Her head rested on his shoulder and her body loosened.
  Then, my shoulders loosened and my eyes looked grateful to the figure before me.
  At the end of the holiday, I was starting to feel the knots in my shoulders loosen and my mind start to clear after all the drama and stress of the past few months.
  Then, almost instantly, she let her shoulders drop and her body loosen, assuming a casual pose in the middle of the room.
  Relax your shoulders by taking a deep breath and then focus on letting your shoulders drop and loosen.
  I felt my shoulders loosen, a tension I hadn't been aware of leeching out of my limbs as I sagged and leaned back into the attention, letting her hand tilt my head as she needed.
  He pulled me into a hug, and I could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders loosen.
  Amy's shoulders loosened and Hart gently trod back to sit quietly by her side.
  I stretched, feeling my muscles slowly loosen.
  The attachment device of the control cover will therefore not wear, and will not loosen over time.
  Synonyms
  relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid
4. 1.4 Make (a connection or relationship) less strong.
  使（联系，关系）不那么紧密
  he wanted to strengthen rather than loosen union links
  他希望加强，而不是放松工会的联系。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Without the basic repair capacity and priority, a specific induction can wait, loosening the link between the operating command and depot-level maintenance costs.
  Interest groups are reluctant to associate closely or openly with political parties, and the Labour party's connections with the trade unions have been loosened.
  She wants to reform the stagnant economy, loosen union power and bring down taxes in a power-sharing Cabinet with the business-friendly FDP party.
  The connection between signifier and signified is loosened and exposed as arbitrary, allowing for alternative interpretations of the sense.
  There are alternative actions which we in the North may demand of our governments in lieu of invasion, and these all tend towards loosening, rather than strengthening, the grip of empire over the South.
  Globalization socially and culturally at very practical levels relativizes national identities and loosens the links between the individual self and nation.
  How would you link his notion of the time-image, with its loosening of the sensory-motor connection, to the jazz-image?
  No lasting foundations for bilateral cooperation and the presence of disputes resulting from this loss of common ground loosen trade links between the states.
  He provides an account of racial discrimination that loosens the link between it and injustice, but still preserves some connection.
  He was on the French interministerial committee that eventually rejected confederation as likely to loosen political links between France and the new states.
  This loosens the link between creditor and borrower.
  Partisan politicization loosens the connection of the military to the American people.
5. 1.5 (with reference to the bowels) make or become relaxed before excretion.
  使（肠道）在排泄前畅通；（肠道）在排泄前变得畅通
  no object his bowels loosened in terror
  惊恐之下，他大便失禁。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Often, the surging of hormones before and during the menstrual cycle can cause your bowels to loosen.
  Prescribe tablets that will loosen their bowel locks.
  ‘Er, hi Corina’, I greeted her meekly, my bowels loosening slightly.
  It's interesting how a year ago the very notion of smallpox made my bowels loosen; now I'm thinking about the proper approach the media should take.
  High doses of vitamin C may loosen the bowels, though this effect invariably abates once the dose is suitably reduced.

Phrases

loosen someone's tongue

Make someone talk freely.
使某人无拘束（或无顾忌）地说话
Example sentencesExamples
- The wine loosens his tongue and he begins to boast of his conquests of women at shady resorts.
- He was slightly drunk and perhaps realised that the alcohol had loosened his tongue a little too much.
- All he needed was a few tots of spirits to loosen his tongue and tell one of his adventures, some pleasant, others tragic.
- He pre-empts the question with an invitation to his office ‘for a glass ‘, and the red wine dispensed liberally by his trusted assistant, Adrian, soon loosens his tongue.’
- We'll just have to give you something that will loosen your tongue.
- The confrontation, however, seemed to have loosened Katrina 's tongue.
- I guess being tired sort of loosened my tongue, because I replied, ‘She left me last night.’
- I felt sleepy and relaxed now, and that loosened my tongue and my senses.
- Apparently, it does not take much to loosen your tongue.
- Perhaps his impending retirement loosened his tongue.

Phrasal Verbs

loosen up

1Warm up in preparation for an activity.
arrive early to loosen up and hit some practice shots
Example sentencesExamples
- First classes were for beginners and those present were introduced to the foundation exercises to allow body muscles to loosen up.
- When she got up out of bed and did some get exercising to loosen up, she started to get ready for the council that afternoon.
- With no practice swings or loosening up the Fulford ace let fly, despite being racked by pain in his neck and shoulders.
- There he is, at the end of the runway, preparing, psyching, wobbling thighs, flexing fingers, loosening up, imagining his jump, imaging he's going to jump right out of the stadium.
- While almost everyone else on the team is getting pounded through the course of a game, the kicker wanders the sideline in a clean uniform, occasionally loosening up by kicking balls into a net.
- When you see a golfer taking a practice swing they are not just loosening up, they are telling their subconscious what they want to happen.
- She took a few steps away from the others and then started doing a few exercises to loosen up her cramped muscles.
- Precede your weight training with a light whole-body cardio warm-up as usual, and do some light sets of the first exercise to loosen up your muscles.
- While the rest of the Connecticut players merely loosen up, stretching the muscles used on their jump shots, Brown instantly goes to work.
- The dancers and musicians loosened up for their collaboration through exercises such as call-and-response sessions, in which a musician would improvise a phrase and a dancer would respond with movement.
- Stretching should always precede any form of exercise in order to warm and loosen up the muscles and to avoid injury.
- Since the practice was held in Dalkey, a little less than 2 miles from the house, I decided to run there so I could loosen up and relax a bit.
1. 1.1Make or become relaxed.
  放松
  they taught me to have fun at work and loosen up
  the beer is loosening him up
  Example sentencesExamples
  It's nice loosening up and being able to say what you really feel.
  The crowd really loosened up once the headliner took the stage.

词汇	loosen
释义	Definition of loosen in English: loosen verb ˈluːs(ə)nˈlus(ə)n [with object] 1Make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm. 使松开 loosen your collar and tie 解开领口，松开领带。 Example sentencesExamples She shook her head, before reaching up and loosening her hair free of its holder. She shook her head in acknowledgment, and went to Glory, loosening the tied reins. One should cushion the fall, cradle the head, remove glasses, and loosen tight clothes. My brain slowly began to click into gear and I started thinking about loosening his collar and laying him down. ‘Uh, thanks,’ Bella mumbled, trying to loosen her dress because it suddenly felt tight. With a last look that the door and windows were shuttered tight, I loosened my shirt. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt. His fingers threaded through her tight chignon and loosened it. The officer swallowed and loosened his collar slightly. I was unable to loosen the tight wire, it was probably a pliant clothing hanger. To balance the tension, loosen the tightest thread first If the training collar is too tight, the pressure will not be relieved when you loosen the leash. He loosened his tie and undid the first button of his collar so he wouldn't suffocate. He puts down his briefcase, loosens his collar and falls into his leather chair. He was reaching up to loosen the collar of his shirt when he noticed his mother and younger sibling coming down the stairs. ‘Okay, okay,’ gasped John, loosening his collar so he could get a better breath. The girl to our right, in complementary pinks and peach colors, lifts her face as she loosens the tight black collar around her neck. The wind tried tirelessly to loosen her tight pony-tail, but only resulted in removing a few strands to hang by her ears, decorated with gold hoops. I watched him loosen his collar, and walk over to a stool where his violin case was, open. Next, he loosened the collar of his white dress shirt. Synonyms make slack, slacken, slack, unstick unfasten, detach, release, disconnect, undo, unclasp, unlatch, unbolt unfasten, undo, release, unhook, slacken, let out 1.1 Relax (one's grip or muscles) 放松（紧抓的手，肌肉） he loosened his hold so she could pull her arms free 他松了松手，于是她得以把胳膊拔出来。 Example sentencesExamples Expression blank and thoughts and emotions carefully controlled, she loosened her tight hold upon her fan. He loosened his grip and turned me around to sit on the bed. She loosened her grip and kissed the top of his head. When muscles are loosened and the circulation is good, good health will prevail and there will inevitably be less chance of any disfunction. To ease the aches and pains of the office, ask your partner to gently rub your shoulders, or try one of the exercises below to get your blood flowing and loosen your muscles. Instead, he adopted a confused look and loosened his grip. He turned to her without loosening his grip around her petite figure and displayed a mischievous grin. Emma immediately relaxed and loosened her grip on my leg. Bandit loosened his grip, relaxing his arms until his hold on her turned into a real embrace. That had done it, his grip lost its intensity and though it still remained firm, he loosened his hold greatly. Having a stretch loosens your muscles and relaxes your body. Aerobic exercise helps to loosen tense muscles. He, in turn, loosened his grip and moved his hands to my hips. Anna expelled a breath of relief which served to loosen her muscles and help her to relax. Chris, who was still holding onto his best friend, gave me a questionable look before loosening his grip. ‘Ok,’ Amber replied, stepping back and loosening her grip on him before letting go completely. Lifeguards flushed the shark's gills with fresh water to loosen its grip. Yoga and breathing exercises help in getting rid of the spasm by loosening the muscles and maintaining balance of ‘prana’ throughout the body. Lucas only hung his head and loosened his grip on the pole in response. For decades, it was accepted that every athlete should stretch before engaging in any exercise or sport to loosen the muscles and protect them from injury. Synonyms become slack, slacken, become loose, let go, unbind, ease work loose, work free weaken, relax, slacken, loose, lessen, reduce, moderate, diminish, soften, alleviate, dilute 1.2no object Become relaxed or less tight. 变得放松，变得较为不绷紧 the stiffness in his shoulders had loosened 他肩部的僵直感减轻了。 Example sentencesExamples He pulled me into a hug, and I could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders loosen. At the end of the holiday, I was starting to feel the knots in my shoulders loosen and my mind start to clear after all the drama and stress of the past few months. He waited for a reaction from her, watching as her back tensed and then loosen as her shoulders sagged. Amy's shoulders loosened and Hart gently trod back to sit quietly by her side. Relax your shoulders by taking a deep breath and then focus on letting your shoulders drop and loosen. I stretched, feeling my muscles slowly loosen. She held on and he squeezed harder, until she gasped in pain and her fingers loosened. Her head rested on his shoulder and her body loosened. Then, almost instantly, she let her shoulders drop and her body loosen, assuming a casual pose in the middle of the room. He saw her shoulders loosen and her frown disappear. Then, my shoulders loosened and my eyes looked grateful to the figure before me. The attachment device of the control cover will therefore not wear, and will not loosen over time. With vinyl windows, avoid frames that are held together with screws because they tend to loosen over time. Holding the paper she let her fingers loosen, and she dropped it. I felt my shoulders loosen, a tension I hadn't been aware of leeching out of my limbs as I sagged and leaned back into the attention, letting her hand tilt my head as she needed. Synonyms relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid 1.3 (with reference to the bowels) make or become relaxed prior to excretion. 使（肠道）在排泄前畅通；（肠道）在排泄前变得畅通 no object his bowels loosened in terror 惊恐之下，他大便失禁。 Example sentencesExamples ‘Er, hi Corina’, I greeted her meekly, my bowels loosening slightly. Often, the surging of hormones before and during the menstrual cycle can cause your bowels to loosen. High doses of vitamin C may loosen the bowels, though this effect invariably abates once the dose is suitably reduced. It's interesting how a year ago the very notion of smallpox made my bowels loosen; now I'm thinking about the proper approach the media should take. Prescribe tablets that will loosen their bowel locks. 2Make less strict. his main mistake was to loosen monetary policy 他最主要的错误是放松了货币政策。 Example sentencesExamples It is clear that the present Governor loosened monetary policy earlier than his predecessor would have done. As evident at the conference, both business circles and scholars are expecting the government to loosen the ‘no haste, be patient’ policy. There is currently no need for any further rate increases, but the Bank must resist the temptation to loosen monetary policy any further until it becomes clear that inflation has been tamed again. If the government simply adds to the deficit, inflation could be triggered by this further loosening of fiscal policy. The anticipated loosening of spending policy received mixed reaction from analysts Wednesday. According to her, the government's decision to loosen rice import policies had reduced the prices of unhusked rice. In this respect, Britain is better placed than most, since base rates of 4.75% give the Bank of England ample leeway to loosen monetary policy. Local traffic authorities have maintained that the city is trying to loosen its policies regarding private car ownership. Will this direct reporting be enough to loosen the strictures of centralization and create the accountability and openness that is needed? However, the deals are a sign that the major music labels are increasingly loosening their licensing policies for digital music. Indeed, many economies have found themselves having to tighten, rather than loosen, fiscal policy in response to economic slowdown. The city's only gay nightclub, is currently loosening its entrance policy and opening up their doors to the straight public. Strong regulations that limited overtime in northern continental Europe are being loosened in response to EU policy. The loosening of that policy for terrorism does create a grey area, but it's a sensible political tactic. Instead of running more public-sector deficits and loosening monetary policy, there should be a radical overhaul of taxes. But the most problematic aspect of his plan has been his role in loosening the criteria for accepting monetary donations to the Institution. That reign only came to an end in the late 1960s as divorce laws loosened and Americans began pulling off their wedding rings at record rates. And are they suggesting that a massive influx of asylum seekers would suddenly appear over the horizon if policy were loosened? It will tighten regulation in some countries but loosen it in others that previously had stricter laws. The cost of borrowing has come down significantly with a loosening of monetary policy in the hope that injecting more cash into the economy would help revive struggling businesses. 2.1 Make (a connection) less strong. 使（联系，关系）不那么紧密 he wanted to strengthen rather than loosen union links 他希望加强，而不是放松工会的联系。 Example sentencesExamples Without the basic repair capacity and priority, a specific induction can wait, loosening the link between the operating command and depot-level maintenance costs. Partisan politicization loosens the connection of the military to the American people. This loosens the link between creditor and borrower. Interest groups are reluctant to associate closely or openly with political parties, and the Labour party's connections with the trade unions have been loosened. He was on the French interministerial committee that eventually rejected confederation as likely to loosen political links between France and the new states. The connection between signifier and signified is loosened and exposed as arbitrary, allowing for alternative interpretations of the sense. She wants to reform the stagnant economy, loosen union power and bring down taxes in a power-sharing Cabinet with the business-friendly FDP party. Globalization socially and culturally at very practical levels relativizes national identities and loosens the links between the individual self and nation. How would you link his notion of the time-image, with its loosening of the sensory-motor connection, to the jazz-image? He provides an account of racial discrimination that loosens the link between it and injustice, but still preserves some connection. No lasting foundations for bilateral cooperation and the presence of disputes resulting from this loss of common ground loosen trade links between the states. There are alternative actions which we in the North may demand of our governments in lieu of invasion, and these all tend towards loosening, rather than strengthening, the grip of empire over the South. Phrases loosen someone's tongue Make someone talk freely. 使某人无拘束（或无顾忌）地说话 three quarters of a bottle of wine had loosened her tongue Example sentencesExamples Perhaps his impending retirement loosened his tongue. Apparently, it does not take much to loosen your tongue. The wine loosens his tongue and he begins to boast of his conquests of women at shady resorts. I guess being tired sort of loosened my tongue, because I replied, ‘She left me last night.’ He pre-empts the question with an invitation to his office ‘for a glass ‘, and the red wine dispensed liberally by his trusted assistant, Adrian, soon loosens his tongue.’ We'll just have to give you something that will loosen your tongue. I felt sleepy and relaxed now, and that loosened my tongue and my senses. The confrontation, however, seemed to have loosened Katrina 's tongue. He was slightly drunk and perhaps realised that the alcohol had loosened his tongue a little too much. All he needed was a few tots of spirits to loosen his tongue and tell one of his adventures, some pleasant, others tragic. Phrasal Verbs loosen up 1Relax one's muscles before taking exercise. arrive early to loosen up and hit some practice shots Example sentencesExamples When you see a golfer taking a practice swing they are not just loosening up, they are telling their subconscious what they want to happen. While almost everyone else on the team is getting pounded through the course of a game, the kicker wanders the sideline in a clean uniform, occasionally loosening up by kicking balls into a net. The dancers and musicians loosened up for their collaboration through exercises such as call-and-response sessions, in which a musician would improvise a phrase and a dancer would respond with movement. Stretching should always precede any form of exercise in order to warm and loosen up the muscles and to avoid injury. With no practice swings or loosening up the Fulford ace let fly, despite being racked by pain in his neck and shoulders. When she got up out of bed and did some get exercising to loosen up, she started to get ready for the council that afternoon. While the rest of the Connecticut players merely loosen up, stretching the muscles used on their jump shots, Brown instantly goes to work. Since the practice was held in Dalkey, a little less than 2 miles from the house, I decided to run there so I could loosen up and relax a bit. She took a few steps away from the others and then started doing a few exercises to loosen up her cramped muscles. There he is, at the end of the runway, preparing, psyching, wobbling thighs, flexing fingers, loosening up, imagining his jump, imaging he's going to jump right out of the stadium. First classes were for beginners and those present were introduced to the foundation exercises to allow body muscles to loosen up. Precede your weight training with a light whole-body cardio warm-up as usual, and do some light sets of the first exercise to loosen up your muscles. 1.1Become mentally relaxed. they taught me to have fun and loosen up Example sentencesExamples He seemed quite nervous at first, but loosened up as the gig progressed. Yet after he's got used to addressing 10,000 people he loosens up and gets right back into his lovable ‘isn't everything great?’ I loosened up a little and settled back into the chair. ‘People assume they're loosening up because they're drinking alcohol,’ he says. But as the gig progressed he seemed to loosen up a bit and started making eye contact with audience members, and he flashed a few smiles in various directions. Breathing and bonding exercises follow and as we all got to know each other, loosening up in the Greek heat, we risk the sort of gentle ribaldry and wicked banter that rapidly promotes friendships and constant hilarity. In fact, he seems to have loosened up, as if he has less to prove. This time, he turned his back on his usual references, loosened up and had great fun with colour and pattern. Gawky and terrified during her first attempt to dance, she gradually began to loosen up. As a blogger, I'd like to see him loosen up a bit: a few more shorter, less self-consciously ‘important’ pieces wouldn't go amiss. As more drinks are consumed, I begin to loosen up. ‘She really loosens up then,’ says her husband smiling as he recalls the stress-free existence they enjoy away from athletics. He just wants everything to be perfect, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with this meglomaniacal edge, sometimes you wish he was able to loosen up a little and enjoy the show like everyone else. Golf is a game especially suited to loosening up, calming down and enjoying the company of friends in a leisurely landscape. After a couple of pints we began to loosen up and we had a great night talking rubbish and joking and laughing. He has been guarded and cautious in his tactics and his dealings with the press so far but perhaps next season, if he has graduated with honours, he will loosen up and begin to show how much he is enjoying life in Scotland. She lacks her gift for self-deprecating comedy and she needs to loosen up on screen but she has an engaging manner. ‘Come on, George, loosen up,’ he wrote, ‘swing man… be grateful, stop complaining.’ I had loosened up a bit too and started chatting a lot more freely to more of the other guys. If people do agree to be interviewed, they usually do so in a co-operative way and loosen up after initial anxiety about the microphone. Synonyms relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid verb.1 phr. phr.v. Definition of loosen in US English: loosen verbˈlo͞os(ə)nˈlus(ə)n [with object] 1Make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm. 使松开 loosen your collar and tie 解开领口，松开领带。 Example sentencesExamples I was unable to loosen the tight wire, it was probably a pliant clothing hanger. She shook her head in acknowledgment, and went to Glory, loosening the tied reins. My brain slowly began to click into gear and I started thinking about loosening his collar and laying him down. Next, he loosened the collar of his white dress shirt. I watched him loosen his collar, and walk over to a stool where his violin case was, open. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt. The girl to our right, in complementary pinks and peach colors, lifts her face as she loosens the tight black collar around her neck. One should cushion the fall, cradle the head, remove glasses, and loosen tight clothes. He puts down his briefcase, loosens his collar and falls into his leather chair. He loosened his tie and undid the first button of his collar so he wouldn't suffocate. ‘Okay, okay,’ gasped John, loosening his collar so he could get a better breath. To balance the tension, loosen the tightest thread first She shook her head, before reaching up and loosening her hair free of its holder. The wind tried tirelessly to loosen her tight pony-tail, but only resulted in removing a few strands to hang by her ears, decorated with gold hoops. The officer swallowed and loosened his collar slightly. His fingers threaded through her tight chignon and loosened it. If the training collar is too tight, the pressure will not be relieved when you loosen the leash. ‘Uh, thanks,’ Bella mumbled, trying to loosen her dress because it suddenly felt tight. He was reaching up to loosen the collar of his shirt when he noticed his mother and younger sibling coming down the stairs. With a last look that the door and windows were shuttered tight, I loosened my shirt. Synonyms make slack, slacken, slack, unstick unfasten, undo, release, unhook, slacken, let out 1.1 Make more lax. 放松 his main mistake was to loosen monetary policy 他最主要的错误是放松了货币政策。 a loosening of the benefit rules 补助金发放规定的放宽。 Example sentencesExamples The anticipated loosening of spending policy received mixed reaction from analysts Wednesday. The city's only gay nightclub, is currently loosening its entrance policy and opening up their doors to the straight public. It is clear that the present Governor loosened monetary policy earlier than his predecessor would have done. Instead of running more public-sector deficits and loosening monetary policy, there should be a radical overhaul of taxes. According to her, the government's decision to loosen rice import policies had reduced the prices of unhusked rice. But the most problematic aspect of his plan has been his role in loosening the criteria for accepting monetary donations to the Institution. The cost of borrowing has come down significantly with a loosening of monetary policy in the hope that injecting more cash into the economy would help revive struggling businesses. There is currently no need for any further rate increases, but the Bank must resist the temptation to loosen monetary policy any further until it becomes clear that inflation has been tamed again. As evident at the conference, both business circles and scholars are expecting the government to loosen the ‘no haste, be patient’ policy. Strong regulations that limited overtime in northern continental Europe are being loosened in response to EU policy. Will this direct reporting be enough to loosen the strictures of centralization and create the accountability and openness that is needed? In this respect, Britain is better placed than most, since base rates of 4.75% give the Bank of England ample leeway to loosen monetary policy. And are they suggesting that a massive influx of asylum seekers would suddenly appear over the horizon if policy were loosened? Local traffic authorities have maintained that the city is trying to loosen its policies regarding private car ownership. However, the deals are a sign that the major music labels are increasingly loosening their licensing policies for digital music. Indeed, many economies have found themselves having to tighten, rather than loosen, fiscal policy in response to economic slowdown. It will tighten regulation in some countries but loosen it in others that previously had stricter laws. The loosening of that policy for terrorism does create a grey area, but it's a sensible political tactic. If the government simply adds to the deficit, inflation could be triggered by this further loosening of fiscal policy. That reign only came to an end in the late 1960s as divorce laws loosened and Americans began pulling off their wedding rings at record rates. 1.2 Relax (one's grip or muscles) 放松（紧抓的手，肌肉） he loosened his hold so she could pull her arms free 他松了松手，于是她得以把胳膊拔出来。 Example sentencesExamples When muscles are loosened and the circulation is good, good health will prevail and there will inevitably be less chance of any disfunction. Lucas only hung his head and loosened his grip on the pole in response. Aerobic exercise helps to loosen tense muscles. Chris, who was still holding onto his best friend, gave me a questionable look before loosening his grip. That had done it, his grip lost its intensity and though it still remained firm, he loosened his hold greatly. ‘Ok,’ Amber replied, stepping back and loosening her grip on him before letting go completely. Expression blank and thoughts and emotions carefully controlled, she loosened her tight hold upon her fan. He turned to her without loosening his grip around her petite figure and displayed a mischievous grin. He loosened his grip and turned me around to sit on the bed. Having a stretch loosens your muscles and relaxes your body. He, in turn, loosened his grip and moved his hands to my hips. For decades, it was accepted that every athlete should stretch before engaging in any exercise or sport to loosen the muscles and protect them from injury. Bandit loosened his grip, relaxing his arms until his hold on her turned into a real embrace. She loosened her grip and kissed the top of his head. Yoga and breathing exercises help in getting rid of the spasm by loosening the muscles and maintaining balance of ‘prana’ throughout the body. Emma immediately relaxed and loosened her grip on my leg. To ease the aches and pains of the office, ask your partner to gently rub your shoulders, or try one of the exercises below to get your blood flowing and loosen your muscles. Instead, he adopted a confused look and loosened his grip. Lifeguards flushed the shark's gills with fresh water to loosen its grip. Anna expelled a breath of relief which served to loosen her muscles and help her to relax. Synonyms become slack, slacken, become loose, let go, unbind, ease weaken, relax, slacken, loose, lessen, reduce, moderate, diminish, soften, alleviate, dilute 1.3no object Become relaxed or less tight. 变得放松，变得较为不绷紧 the stiffness in his shoulders had loosened 他肩部的僵直感减轻了。 Example sentencesExamples Holding the paper she let her fingers loosen, and she dropped it. With vinyl windows, avoid frames that are held together with screws because they tend to loosen over time. He saw her shoulders loosen and her frown disappear. She held on and he squeezed harder, until she gasped in pain and her fingers loosened. He waited for a reaction from her, watching as her back tensed and then loosen as her shoulders sagged. Her head rested on his shoulder and her body loosened. Then, my shoulders loosened and my eyes looked grateful to the figure before me. At the end of the holiday, I was starting to feel the knots in my shoulders loosen and my mind start to clear after all the drama and stress of the past few months. Then, almost instantly, she let her shoulders drop and her body loosen, assuming a casual pose in the middle of the room. Relax your shoulders by taking a deep breath and then focus on letting your shoulders drop and loosen. I felt my shoulders loosen, a tension I hadn't been aware of leeching out of my limbs as I sagged and leaned back into the attention, letting her hand tilt my head as she needed. He pulled me into a hug, and I could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders loosen. Amy's shoulders loosened and Hart gently trod back to sit quietly by her side. I stretched, feeling my muscles slowly loosen. The attachment device of the control cover will therefore not wear, and will not loosen over time. Synonyms relax, become relaxed, unwind, ease off, ease up, become less rigid 1.4 Make (a connection or relationship) less strong. 使（联系，关系）不那么紧密 he wanted to strengthen rather than loosen union links 他希望加强，而不是放松工会的联系。 Example sentencesExamples Without the basic repair capacity and priority, a specific induction can wait, loosening the link between the operating command and depot-level maintenance costs. Interest groups are reluctant to associate closely or openly with political parties, and the Labour party's connections with the trade unions have been loosened. She wants to reform the stagnant economy, loosen union power and bring down taxes in a power-sharing Cabinet with the business-friendly FDP party. The connection between signifier and signified is loosened and exposed as arbitrary, allowing for alternative interpretations of the sense. There are alternative actions which we in the North may demand of our governments in lieu of invasion, and these all tend towards loosening, rather than strengthening, the grip of empire over the South. Globalization socially and culturally at very practical levels relativizes national identities and loosens the links between the individual self and nation. How would you link his notion of the time-image, with its loosening of the sensory-motor connection, to the jazz-image? No lasting foundations for bilateral cooperation and the presence of disputes resulting from this loss of common ground loosen trade links between the states. He provides an account of racial discrimination that loosens the link between it and injustice, but still preserves some connection. He was on the French interministerial committee that eventually rejected confederation as likely to loosen political links between France and the new states. This loosens the link between creditor and borrower. Partisan politicization loosens the connection of the military to the American people. 1.5 (with reference to the bowels) make or become relaxed before excretion. 使（肠道）在排泄前畅通；（肠道）在排泄前变得畅通 no object his bowels loosened in terror 惊恐之下，他大便失禁。 Example sentencesExamples Often, the surging of hormones before and during the menstrual cycle can cause your bowels to loosen. Prescribe tablets that will loosen their bowel locks. ‘Er, hi Corina’, I greeted her meekly, my bowels loosening slightly. It's interesting how a year ago the very notion of smallpox made my bowels loosen; now I'm thinking about the proper approach the media should take. High doses of vitamin C may loosen the bowels, though this effect invariably abates once the dose is suitably reduced. Phrases loosen someone's tongue Make someone talk freely. 使某人无拘束（或无顾忌）地说话 Example sentencesExamples The wine loosens his tongue and he begins to boast of his conquests of women at shady resorts. He was slightly drunk and perhaps realised that the alcohol had loosened his tongue a little too much. All he needed was a few tots of spirits to loosen his tongue and tell one of his adventures, some pleasant, others tragic. He pre-empts the question with an invitation to his office ‘for a glass ‘, and the red wine dispensed liberally by his trusted assistant, Adrian, soon loosens his tongue.’ We'll just have to give you something that will loosen your tongue. The confrontation, however, seemed to have loosened Katrina 's tongue. I guess being tired sort of loosened my tongue, because I replied, ‘She left me last night.’ I felt sleepy and relaxed now, and that loosened my tongue and my senses. Apparently, it does not take much to loosen your tongue. Perhaps his impending retirement loosened his tongue. Phrasal Verbs loosen up 1Warm up in preparation for an activity. arrive early to loosen up and hit some practice shots Example sentencesExamples First classes were for beginners and those present were introduced to the foundation exercises to allow body muscles to loosen up. When she got up out of bed and did some get exercising to loosen up, she started to get ready for the council that afternoon. With no practice swings or loosening up the Fulford ace let fly, despite being racked by pain in his neck and shoulders. There he is, at the end of the runway, preparing, psyching, wobbling thighs, flexing fingers, loosening up, imagining his jump, imaging he's going to jump right out of the stadium. While almost everyone else on the team is getting pounded through the course of a game, the kicker wanders the sideline in a clean uniform, occasionally loosening up by kicking balls into a net. When you see a golfer taking a practice swing they are not just loosening up, they are telling their subconscious what they want to happen. She took a few steps away from the others and then started doing a few exercises to loosen up her cramped muscles. Precede your weight training with a light whole-body cardio warm-up as usual, and do some light sets of the first exercise to loosen up your muscles. While the rest of the Connecticut players merely loosen up, stretching the muscles used on their jump shots, Brown instantly goes to work. The dancers and musicians loosened up for their collaboration through exercises such as call-and-response sessions, in which a musician would improvise a phrase and a dancer would respond with movement. Stretching should always precede any form of exercise in order to warm and loosen up the muscles and to avoid injury. Since the practice was held in Dalkey, a little less than 2 miles from the house, I decided to run there so I could loosen up and relax a bit. 1.1Make or become relaxed. 放松 they taught me to have fun at work and loosen up the beer is loosening him up Example sentencesExamples It's nice loosening up and being able to say what you really feel. The crowd really loosened up once the headliner took the stage. verb.1 phr. phr.v.
随便看	particularly particularly particularment particular negative particularness particulars particulars particular solution particulate particulated particulates particulates particule partie partie carre partie carree partie carré partie carrée partied partied-out partier partier parties parti-fellow partified