ease things up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'ease things up' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest or ask someone to reduce the intensity or difficulty of something. For example, "Let's ease things up a bit and take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I understand why the state's trying to ease things up, but at the same time I don't love taking away local control," said Councilman Jon Curtis.

Los Angeles Times

We suggested in Dijkstra (2008) to add 'reflection neutrality' to ease things up.

Child Indicators Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

another propaganda mill for the Soviet". On April 5 Churchill agreed that "we must remain vigilantly on our guard" and maintain the defensive rearmament, but added that "we think, as I am sure you do also, that we ought to lose no chance of finding out how far the Malenkov regime are prepared to go in easing things up all around". He followed this up with two messages.

The New York Times - Books

Worry isn't going to ease things for you; the best thing to do is to plunge right back in and pick up from where you left off.

WikiHow

A female touch would surely ease things.

The Economist

One can only ease things into other things.

Vice

It eased things with my mother.

The Guardian - Books

Now there is no rhythm, and Jets' coaches conceded after yesterday's game that they had to consider getting Pennington in the mix, easing him in to shake things up when the offense is sputtering or when the Jets need to speed things up.

The New York Times - Sports

They've messed things up.

BMC Geriatrics

It's an act of severe, intense solitude, partly now destroyed by the internet, and its deceptive promise of the ease of looking things up as you go along.

The Guardian - Books

It'll ease the tension, lighten things up, and cause the proud person to see that you really do care about them as a whole person and not just being a busybody when they're in obvious need.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ease things up" when you want to suggest making a process or situation less difficult or intense. It implies a gradual reduction in pressure or effort.

Common error

Avoid using "ease things up" in highly formal or professional settings where more precise or sophisticated language is expected. Opt for phrases like "reduce the pressure" or "alleviate the burden" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ease things up" functions as a phrasal verb, acting as a directive or suggestion to reduce the intensity or difficulty of a situation or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ease things up" is a commonly used phrasal verb that suggests a reduction in intensity, difficulty, or pressure. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and informal conversation. While versatile, it's best to avoid using it in highly formal or professional settings where more precise language may be required. Related phrases, like "lighten the load" or "reduce the pressure", can serve as alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the pressure

Directly addresses lessening the force or strain.

alleviate the stress

Addresses reducing mental or emotional strain.

lighten the load

Focuses on reducing the burden or pressure.

take it easy

Implies relaxing and avoiding stress.

relax the rules

Suggests making regulations less strict.

calm the situation

Suggests pacifying or stabilizing a tense environment.

smooth things over

Implies resolving conflicts or difficulties.

make things simpler

Emphasizes simplification and clarity.

soften the blow

Focuses on mitigating negative impact.

make headway

Suggests making progress in a smooth manner.

FAQs

How can I use "ease things up" in a sentence?

You can use "ease things up" to suggest reducing the intensity or difficulty of something. For example, "Let's "take it easy" for a while and then resume the task later".

What are some alternatives to "ease things up"?

Alternatives include phrases like "lighten the load", "reduce the pressure", or "calm the situation", depending on the specific context.

Is "ease things up" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "ease things up" is generally more suitable for informal or conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "reduce the intensity" or "alleviate the burden".

What does it mean to "ease up"?

To "ease up" means to reduce effort, pressure, or intensity. It can be used in various contexts, from physical exertion to emotional stress. For example, "It's time to "take it easy" and not push ourselves too hard today".