lighten up

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.

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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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.

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

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Related Words

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