loosen

[/ˈluːsən/]

verb

afrouxar

1. to make something less tight or firmly fixed

Can you loosen this knot for me?

Você pode afrouxar este nó para mim?

2. to relax or become less rigid; to make less tense

The massage helped loosen my tight muscles.

A massagem ajudou a afrouxar meus músculos tensos.

3. to make less strict or rigorous

The school decided to loosen its uniform policy.

A escola decidiu afrouxar sua política de uniforme.

4. to set free or release

They loosened the prisoner from his chains.

Eles libertaram o prisioneiro de suas correntes.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

afrouxar

most common and standard term

São Paulo

soltar

used colloquially for 'release' or 'let go'

Portugal

soltar

preferred in European Portuguese, especially for 'release'

General Brazilian

desapertos

informal variant meaning 'to relax' or 'ease up'

loosen one's grip - afrouxar o aperto/domínio

loosen up - relaxar, soltar-se, descontrair

loosen the purse strings - gastar mais livremente

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