lighten up

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

“What’s the alternative?” the ad asks, “lightening up and being fun?”

From Los Angeles Times

“It sort of lightens up in color again once it plumps up with all that syrup.”

From Salon

“But for us to be worried about two little numbers, you know, maybe it’s this generation telling us to lighten up a little.”

From Los Angeles Times

The storms that battered the Hill Country for the last four days began to lighten up, although isolated pockets of heavy rain were still possible.

From Los Angeles Times

What’s more, Bridges expresses gratitude for his wife’s frequent reminders to lighten up and have fun.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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