lighten up

Q: Is it correct to say "He lightened up a cigarette before the meeting."?

No — say "He lit up a cigarette before the meeting.". Learners often confuse the verb 'lighten' (to make less heavy or serious) with the verb 'light' (to ignite).

Definition

phrasal verb. to stop being so serious or worried and start being more relaxed. You use this when someone is taking a situation too seriously or getting angry about a small problem.

phrasal verb. to adopt a less serious, formal, or somber attitude. The verb is primarily used intransitively in this idiomatic sense to encourage a change in mood or perspective.

simple

“Lighten up, it was only a joke!”

contextual

“After working for twelve hours straight, Sarah told her boss he needed to lighten up and go home to his family.”

complex

“The tension within the diplomatic envoy began to dissipate only when the lead negotiator finally decided to lighten up and share a personal anecdote.”

This phrase is most commonly used in the imperative mood as a command or a piece of friendly advice.

Contrast this with 'calm down'; while 'calm down' addresses high energy or anger, 'lighten up' specifically targets excessive seriousness or a gloomy mood.

He lightened up a cigarette before the meeting.

He lit up a cigarette before the meeting.

Learners often confuse the verb 'lighten' (to make less heavy or serious) with the verb 'light' (to ignite).

Particles

up

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

lighten + up

relax chill out loosen up cheer up

tense upworry brood

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

Phrasal verb

Definition

Examples

Examples

Usage

Teaching tip

Pitfall

Phrasal verb

Synonyms

Antonyms

Grammar

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