What does “ease up” mean?
The phrase "ease up" means 'to make less nervous' or 'to calm down.' When someone tells someone else to "ease up", they are encouraging them to relax or reduce their anxiety or stress levels. It is often used as a way to comfort or support someone who is feeling tense or worried.
How is the expression used in real life?
Example
Take a deep breath and ease up, everything will be fine.
Example
I need to ease up before my big presentation tomorrow.
Example
Her words of encouragement helped ease me up before the job interview.
What context can I use each expression in?
- 1Encouraging relaxation and stress reduction
After a long day at work, I like to ease up by taking a hot bath.
When I feel overwhelmed, I listen to calming music to ease up.
- 2Preparing for a challenging situation
Before a big exam, it's important to ease up and clear your mind.
I always do some deep breathing exercises to ease up before public speaking.
- 3Receiving support or assistance
Her kind words helped ease me up before the important meeting.
I appreciate it when my friends ease me up by offering to help with my workload.
Good things to know:
What is the origin of the phrase?
"Ease up" is a common phrase in English that has been adopted as slang. It is widely used in informal conversations and has become popular in modern culture.
Can the phrase be used on its own?
While "ease up" is often used in a sentence, it can also stand alone as a command or suggestion. For example, if someone is visibly stressed, you might say "Ease up" to advise them to relax.
Is the phrase offensive?
"Ease up" is not offensive in itself. It's a slang term used to encourage relaxation and reduce nervousness.
Audience for the phrase
"Ease up" can be used by anyone who wants to encourage relaxation or reduce nervousness. It is commonly used in casual conversations and is understood by English speakers of all ages.
Is the phrase specific to an accent or country?
"Ease up" is not specific to any particular accent or region. It is widely used across English-speaking regions and is a part of everyday language.
