lighten up
lighten up — 慣用語
1. to add humour or light-hearted details to a serious speech, piece of writing, or
調劑
加入幽默內容使不嚴肅
to add humour or light-hearted details to a serious speech, piece of writing, or conversation so it feels less formal or heavy
Ishaan told a few funny stories to lighten up his presentation about tax laws.
Ishaan 在介紹稅法的報告中講了幾個笑話來調劑氣氛。
pattern: lighten up + presentation / speech / writing
The teacher added a cartoon to lighten up the textbook chapter on grammar rules.
老師在文法書的章節裡加了一幅漫畫來調劑嚴肅的內容。
Jessica tried to lighten up the conversation by making a joke about the weather.
Jessica 講了一個關於天氣的笑話，想讓談話輕鬆一些。
To lighten up the wedding speech, Bao mentioned the couple's first awkward date.
為了讓婚禮致詞輕鬆一些，Bao 提到這對夫妻第一次約會的尷尬事。
The director asked the writer to lighten up the play's second act with some humour.
導演要求編劇在劇本第二幕多加一些笑點來調劑氣氛。
- liven up
more general — can refer to any event or atmosphere, not just speech/writing
- add levity to
more formal; used in written contexts
文法句型
lighten up + noun (speech, presentation, conversation)
用法筆記
The object is an inanimate thing such as a speech, presentation, lesson, or piece of writing — never a person. Most common when the speaker deliberately chooses to make something more entertaining.
常見錯誤
2. to become calmer and stop taking things so seriously, especially after a period
放鬆
不再那麼緊繃嚴肅
to become calmer and stop taking things so seriously, especially after a period of being tense, strict, or annoyed
After twenty years at the same company, Olivia finally learned to lighten up at work.
在同間公司待了二十年後，Olivia 終於學會了在工作上放鬆。
pattern: learn to lighten up; finally lighten up
Mateo used to be strict about homework, but now he has started to lighten up.
Mateo 以前對功課要求很嚴格，但現在他已經開始放鬆了。
When Salma realised her mistake was fixable, she took a deep breath and lightened up.
Salma 發現錯誤還能補救後，深吸一口氣，讓自己放鬆下來。
The coach told the team to lighten up before the big game to stay calm.
教練要大賽前放輕鬆，才不會繃得太緊。
- get worked up
informal; become anxious or angry about something
文法句型
lighten up (no object)
用法筆記
Subject is a person who is changing their attitude. Often used in suggestions ('You should lighten up') or self-description ('I need to lighten up'). Cannot take an object.
常見錯誤
lighten up — 片語動詞
- lighten upbase form
- lightens up3rd person singular
- lightening up-ing form
- lightened uppast simple
1. used as a direct and informal instruction for someone to stop being so serious,
別緊張
用命令口氣要對方停止緊張
used as a direct and informal instruction for someone to stop being so serious, anxious, or strict, and instead adopt a more relaxed attitude
Lighten up, Ilan — it is just a board game, not a life-or-death decision.
放輕鬆，Ilan，這只是個桌遊，又不是什麼生死攸關的大事。
imperative form directed at a specific person
Nikos told his brother to lighten up when he kept complaining about the menu.
Nikos 叫弟弟放輕鬆，別一直抱怨菜單。
Come on, Tamar, lighten up! The party is meant to be fun, not a test.
好了，Tamar，放輕鬆！派對就是要開心的，又不是考試。
When Haruto kept worrying about his exam results, his roommate said, lighten up.
Haruto 一直擔心考試成績，他的室友叫他放輕鬆。
- take it easy
gentler; less direct as a command
- chill out
more informal and stronger; can sound rude
- relax
neutral register; can be used in more situations
文法句型
lighten up! (imperative)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the imperative form, speaking directly to someone. Common among friends and in casual settings. Never used in formal writing or polite requests.
常見錯誤
lighten up — 動詞
- lighten uppresent simple I / you / we / they
- lightens up3rd person singular
- lightening up-ing form
- lightened uppast simple
1. to change a situation, atmosphere, or person's mood so that it feels brighter, h
變輕鬆
使人或氣氛變愉快
to change a situation, atmosphere, or person's mood so that it feels brighter, happier, and no longer dull or heavy — for instance, how a joke lifts the spirits of everyone in a quiet room
The arrival of the food delivery lightened up the mood in the tired office.
外送餐點抵達後，沉悶辦公室裡的氣氛變輕鬆了。
subject causes the change: event lightens up atmosphere
A short walk in the park helped lighten up Nia's thoughts after a stressful morning.
在公園裡走一小段路，讓 Nia 在緊繃的早晨後心情輕鬆了一些。
Playing with the neighbour's puppy lightened up the children's rainy afternoon.
和鄰居的小狗玩耍，讓孩子們陰雨綿綿的下午變得愉快起來。
The funny video lightened up an otherwise gloomy evening for the whole family.
那支有趣的影片讓原本沉悶的夜晚變得輕鬆許多。
- brighten up
very similar; often used for a person's face or mood
- cheer up
specifically about a person's emotional state; can be a command
- darken
used for mood or atmosphere turning gloomy
- weigh down
make someone feel heavy with worry
文法句型
lighten up + noun (mood, atmosphere); subject/atmosphere + lightens up
用法筆記
Broader than the idiom senses: the subject can be an event, action, thing, or person that causes a cheerful change. The object can be a mood, atmosphere, event, or occasionally a person's mind or thoughts.