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                        1
                           general:: 
                           Phrase(s): lighten up (on someone or something)  to be less rough and demanding or rude with someone or something. (See also lighten up.)  •  Please lighten up on her. You are being very cruel.  •  You are too harsh. Lighten up.
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
                    
                    
                    
                        2
                           general:: 
                           Phrase(s): lighten something up  to make something lighter or brighter.  •  Some white paint will lighten this room up a lot.  •  The sunlight came in and lightened up the kitchen.
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
                    
                    
                    
                        3
                           general:: 
                           Become or cause to become less serious or gloomy, and more cheerful. For example, Lighten up, Sam? it'll turn out all right. This slangy expression transfers reducing a physical weight to a change of mood or attitude.
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        American Heritage Idioms
                    
                    
                    
                        4
                           general:: 
                           Phrase(s): lighten up  to become lighter or brighter. (See also lighten up (on someone or something).)  •  We applied a new coat of white paint to the walls, and the room lightened up considerably.  •  The sky is beginning to lighten up a little.
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs