loosen up

loosen up

1. Literally, to become looser, less tight, or less restricting. If those shoes are stiff right now, just give them time—they'll loosen up.
2. To make something looser, less tight, or less restricting. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "loosen" and "up." Thanks, that massage really loosened up my shoulders. I can't seem to loosen the knot up. Loose up your grip a little and your hand won't hurt as much.
3. To relax and act in a less serious manner. Oh, loosen up! It's a party—no one wants to talk about work stuff.
4. To cause one to relax and act in a less serious manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "loosen" and "up." My sister is very shy, but for whatever reason, our cousin Sarah always manages to loosen her up.
See also: loosen, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

loosen someone or something up

to make someone's muscles and joints move more freely by exercising them. The exercise loosened me up quite nicely. It loosened up my legs. I have to do some exercises to loosen myself up.
See also: loosen, up

loosen someone up

Fig. to make someone or a group more relaxed and friendly. I loosened up the audience with a joke. Loosen yourself up. Relax and try to enjoy people.
See also: loosen, up

loosen up

to become loose or relaxed. Loosen up. Relax. We tried to get Mary to loosen up, but she did not respond.
See also: loosen, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

loosen up

v.
1. To cause someone or something to become more loose or relaxed: After the big meal, I loosened up my belt. The trainer loosened me up with a massage before the fight.
2. To become more loose or relaxed: The knots loosened up, and the captives worked themselves free. They seemed shy at first, but by the end of the dinner, the guests had really loosened up.
See also: loosen, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • even/much/still less
  • much less
  • under (someone's or something's) shadow
  • go off the boil
  • under the shadow of (someone or something)
  • in the shadow of (someone or something)
  • in/under the shadow of
  • in less than no time
  • little frog in a big pond
  • a little frog in a big pond
References in periodicals archive
The light-hearted memories of that day were a reminder that when my children are carefree and happy in all their silliness, when they are seen zipping past in odd costumes that often consist of a favourite part of my wardrobe or the mess that the 'fun' leaves behind in their wake, I can occasionally loosen up and dance alongside them to the tunes of the joyous music of childhood while it lasts before we reach a day and age when they have become serious grown-ups and I am left with the many hats I wore while playing Mommy, a perfectly clean home and lots of beautiful memories.
Seriously, when did I get so serious?
FAM '04CAST The folks could be about to loosen up the parental leash and give you some more freedom--a later curfew, fatter allowance or even dating privileges.
GL's astronomical astrological 2004 cast: want the scoop on boys, buds, grades and fam for the upcoming year? Search no more.... We've got your 2004-and-411!
However, this tissue may gradually loosen up over time.
Injured?--Think correction and prevention. (The Clinic)
"I got on with everyone, but I didn't really bond and I felt I was going into my shell which is part of the reason I drank to loosen up."
WHY WHINGEING ALEX WILL BE OUT TONIGHT
Four or five light sprints to loosen up the muscles and get the blood flowing.
Preparing the pitcher for a start
Irene Schaefer, executive at large for Springfield ReManufacturing Corp., recalls this as a particularly hard lesson for one of the company's division controllers: "He just couldn't loosen up." Barton adds, "The operations people spent hours and hours with him, actually teaching him to speak in laymen's terms.
The shift to open-book management
They'd say, |Hey, loosen up over there!' But when I'd loosen up, I'd just set those plans faster."
Two tree planters on a Mississippi porch