What does "lighten up" mean?

To become less serious or stop being so uptight Often used to tell someone to relax and not take things so seriously.

How do you use "lighten up" in a sentence?

Lighten up! It was just a joke. He needs to lighten up a bit. The mood lightened up after the announcement.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

Meaning: To become less serious or stop being so uptight

放松一点，不要太严肃

Volverse menos serio o dejar de ser tan tenso

真剣になりすぎるのをやめる、肩の力を抜く

너무 심각하게 굴지 않다, 긴장을 풀다

Often used to tell someone to relax and not take things so seriously.

常用于告诉某人放松，不要把事情看得太严重。

Se usa frecuentemente para decirle a alguien que se relaje y no se tome las cosas tan en serio.

リラックスして物事をそんなに深刻に受け止めないように言う時によく使われます。

상대방에게 긴장을 풀고 일을 너무 심각하게 받아들이지 말라고 할 때 자주 사용된다.

Base verb: lighten

Particle: up

Separable: No — the verb and particle stay together

Lighten up! It was just a joke.
放松点！只是个玩笑
¡Relájate! Solo era una broma
そんなに堅くならないで！冗談だよ
그렇게 딱딱하게 굴지 마! 농담이었어.
He needs to lighten up a bit.
他需要放松一点
Necesita relajarse un poco
彼はもう少し肩の力を抜くべきだ
그는 좀 더 여유를 가질 필요가 있다.
The mood lightened up after the announcement.
宣布之后气氛轻松了
El ambiente se relajó después del anuncio
発表後、雰囲気が和らいだ
발표 후 분위기가 한결 부드러워졌다.

Context: social, humor

Tone: casual, can be dismissive

From "light" meaning not heavy or serious.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal