- Home
- Idioms
- ease
ease
at (one's) ease
In a relaxed, comfortable, unencumbered, unembarrassed, and/or unanxious position, manner, or situation. I want you to be at your ease here, so please ask for anything that will make your stay more enjoyable. I'm not under too much pressure; they told me to submit the report at my ease.
ease into (something)
To become gently introduced or accustomed to something new, such as a job or situation. I was really stressed about beginning a job I was so unfamiliar with, but my boss let me ease into it, and I have a good handle on things now. Your grandfather has lived in the same home for over 60 years, so we have to be sure he's eased into living with us.
ease someone into (something)
To gently introduce or accustom someone to something new, such as a job or situation. I was really stressed about beginning a job I was so unfamiliar with, but my boss made sure to ease me into the work. Your grandfather has lived in the same home for over 60 years, so we have to be sure we ease him into living with us.
ease up (on someone or something)
To reduce the pressure or urgency placed on a person, thing, action, or situation. Ease up on the brakes there, we don't want to come to a stop that fast. Would you ease up already? I know I messed up the account, and I don't need you berating me for it further. Ease up on Samantha, she's under a lot of pressure at home.
put (oneself) at (one's) ease
To calm, comfort, or reassure oneself; to make oneself comfortable or relaxed. I think we could all put ourselves at ease if we had some personal reassurance from the owners that our jobs weren't in danger. Welcome to my estate, dear guests! I want you to have a most pleasant time here, so please put yourselves at your ease.
at ease
1. Calm and comfortable with a particular task or in a certain environment. She seems much more at ease now that she's been doing her new job for a month. Kids are usually at ease once they become accustomed to the routine of kindergarten.
2. In relaxed posture, as of soldiers in the military. At ease, gentlemen!
be ill at ease
To be nervous or anxious. My sister loves performing, but I'm ill at ease on stage. Fred is ill at ease in big crowds.
at ease
without worry or anxiety. The performer is at ease on the stage. After she had met a few people, Mary felt at ease with the group.
ease away (from someone or something)
to pull away from someone or something slowly and carefully. The great ship eased away from the pier. The ship eased away slowly.
ease back
(on something) to move something back slowly and carefully. (Usually refers to a throttle or some other control on an airplane or other vehicle.) Ann eased back on the throttle and slowed down. Please ease back on the volume control a little. You will deafen us.
ease off
[for something] to diminish. The rain began to ease off. The storm seems to have eased off a little.
ease off
(on someone or something ) and ease up (on someone or something ) to reduce the urgency with which one deals with someone or something; to put less pressure on someone or something. Ease off on John. He has been yelled at enough today. Yes, please ease off. I can't stand any more. Tell them to ease up on the horses. They are getting tired.
ease off (on someone or something)
and ease up (on someone or something)to reduce the urgency with which one deals with someone or something; to put less pressure on someone or something. Ease off on John. He has been yelled at enough today. Yes, please ease off. I can't stand any more. Tell them to ease up on the horses. They are getting tired.
ease (on) out
(of something )1. . Lit. to continue moving out of something, slowly and carefully. I was able to ease on out of the parking space, but only with difficulty. I looked both ways and eased on out.
2. Fig. to leave something, such as an office or position, quietly and without much embarrassment. The bum finally eased on out of office without much public notice. He eased out while the press was concerned with some other crisis.
ease someone (on) out
(of something )1. . Lit. to help someone continue to get out of something. We helped ease heron out of the car. With care, we eased her on out. After taking a look around, Tom eased himself out of the opening.
2. Fig. to help someone decide to leave something, such as an office or position, quietly and without much embarrassment. The scandal eased her on out of office in a way that an election might not have. The scandal eased her on out.
ease someone or something along
to help someone or something to move along, very carefully. Just ease the piano along little by little. She eased the shy child along.
ease (someone or something) down
(from something ) to bring someone or something downward from something gently. The rescuers eased the injured hiker down from the mountain. They eased down the hiker carefully.
ease someone out of something
and ease someone out 1. . Lit. to get someone out of something carefully. The paramedics eased the injured man out of the wreckage. Please ease out the patient carefully.
2. Fig. to get someone out of an office or position quietly and without much embarrassment. We eased the sheriff out of office with out a fight. The board eased out the chairman by offering him a huge bonus.
ease up
(on someone or something ) Go to ease off (on someone or something).
ill at ease
uneasy; anxious. I feel ill at ease about the interview. You look ill at ease. Please relax.
put one at (one's) ease
Fig. to cause someone to relax or feel welcome. She usually tells a little joke to put you at your ease. Please do something to put me at ease.
set someone's mind at ease (about someone or something)
to make someone feel mentally comfortable about someone or something. Alice is upset. I will have to do something to set her mind at ease about the accident. Please set your mind at ease. Everything will be all right.
with ease
without effort. The smart student passed the test with ease. The gymnast did a back flip with ease.
at ease
relaxed and comfortable
The girl behind the bar was completely at ease, chatting with her customers as she mixed their drinks. Usage notes: often used in the form put someone at ease (make someone comfortable): We were greeted by a young woman who immediately put us at ease.
ill at ease
worried and uncomfortable The old gentleman obviously felt ill at ease while he waited to have his hair cut.
Opposite of: at easeput somebody's mind at ease
also set somebody's mind at ease to cause someone to stop worrying
He chose his words carefully to put his mother's mind at ease. Usage notes: also used in the forms put someone's mind at rest and set someone's mind at rest: To put his mind at rest, I offered to make one final check.
be ill at ease
to feel anxious or embarrassed (often + with ) He always felt a little ill at ease with strangers. (sometimes + in ) The girl behind the bar looked ill at ease in her uniform.
at ease
1. Also,
at one's ease. Comfortable, relaxed, unembarrassed, as in
I always feel at ease in my grandmother's house. The related idiom
put at ease means "make comfortable, reassure," as in
I was worried that the letter would not arrive in time, but the postmaster put me at ease . [1300s] For the antonym, see
ill at ease.
2. In a relaxed position in military ranks. The phrase is often used as a command for troops standing at attention to relax, as in At ease, squadron. The command stand at ease is slightly different. A British military dictionary of 1802 described it as standing with the right foot drawn back about six inches and one's weight put on it. An American version is to stand with one's feet slightly apart and the hands clasped behind one's back.
ease off
1. Also,
ease up. Lessen in severity, relax; abate. For example,
I wish you'd ease off on Harold; he's doing the best he can, or
The wind's eased up so I think the storm is just about over. [Late 1800s] Also see
let up.
2. Fall away, gradually decrease, as in The market's easing off, so we may get some stocks more cheaply. [Late 1800s]
ease out
Extract or remove someone or something gradually or gently. For example, He carefully eased the car out of the garage, or We were trying to ease him out of office without a public scandal. [Mid-1900s]
ill at ease
Uncomfortable, uneasy, as in
Large parties made him feel ill at ease. [c. 1300] For an antonym, see
at ease.
ease back
v.1. To move something backward slowly and gently: The pilot eased back the control stick and the plane began to rise. You'll be more comfortable in the airplane if you ease the seat back and take a nap. I realized I was speeding, so I eased back on the accelerator.
2. To act with less intensity or severity: The school has eased back on punishments for being late. The teachers were criticizing the students very harshly, so the principal asked them to ease back.
ease off
v.1. To diminish gradually in intensity or severity: My headache eased off after I took an aspirin.
2. To move away from someone or something slowly and carefully: The snake eased off from the mongoose. Better ease off—they have a gun.
3. To treat someone less severely: The principal eased off on the student and only gave a warning. The coach has made us practice very hard and hasn't eased off for days.
at ease
1. In a relaxed position, especially standing silently at rest with the right foot stationary: put the soldiers at ease while waiting for inspection.
2. Used as a command for troops to assume a relaxed position.
ill at ease
Anxious or unsure; uneasy: The stranger made me feel ill at ease.