ease off

IPA/ˈiːz ˈɒf/
IPA/ˈiːz ˈɔf/

ease off — phrasal verb

  • ease offbase form
  • eases off3rd person singular
  • easing off-ing form
  • eased offpast simple

1. if something painful, difficult, or extreme eases off, it slowly drops to a weak

1.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

if something painful, difficult, or extreme eases off, it slowly drops to a weaker or gentler level.

例句

The heavy rain finally eased off, so Kemi packed away her umbrella.

subject is weather/natural force that weakens

By midnight the pain in Rafael's knee had eased off enough for him to sleep.

subject is pain/discomfort that fades

同義詞
  • let up

    very close in meaning; also used of rain, pressure, or effort slowing

  • subside

    more formal; common for pain, swelling, or strong feelings

  • die down

    for noise, wind, or excitement that gradually weakens

反義詞
  • intensify

    to become stronger, the opposite movement

  • build up

    for pressure or demand growing rather than dropping

文法句型

[something] ease off

用法筆記

Subject is usually an unpleasant or intense force (rain, wind, pain, pressure, traffic), not a person. Distinguish from sense 2, where a person deliberately reduces an activity.

2. to gradually reduce how much of something you do, eat, or take, usually for your

2.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

to gradually reduce how much of something you do, eat, or take, usually for your health or to avoid trouble.

例句

Pim's doctor told her to ease off on salt and fried snacks.

ease off on + thing being cut down

Christopher decided to ease off the late-night gaming before his final exams.

ease off + activity being reduced

同義詞
  • cut back

    common for reducing food, spending, or a habit

  • cut down

    often with 'on'; reduce amount of something consumed

  • go easy

    informal; usually 'go easy on', reduce or be gentle

反義詞
  • step up

    to do more of an activity rather than less

  • overdo

    to do too much of something

文法句型

ease off (on something)

用法筆記

Often takes 'on' before the thing being reduced ('ease off on sugar'). With a person as object ('ease off on him'), it means to stop pressing or criticising them so hard. Subject is a person who chooses to cut back, unlike sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌The rain eased off on the picnic.
✅The rain eased off during the picnic.
💡sense 1 (weather weakening) takes no 'on'; only the deliberate sense 2 uses 'ease off on'.