Definition

1. Verb:
   • To relax physically: To allow one's muscles to become completely natural and comfortable, without any exertion, even very slight. Often used in contexts of rest, recovery, or preparation for physical activity.
   • To give free rein / to let run free: To allow someone or something complete freedom to act without restraint, hindrance, or strict control. This can have a negative connotation of permissiveness leading to negative outcomes.
   • To release from strict custody: To no longer keep in strict confinement, but to allow a degree of freedom under a certain level of supervision. Often used in legal or penal contexts.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trước khi tập, hãy thả lỏng cơ thể. (Before exercising, relax your body.)
  • Cha mẹ không nên thả lỏng con cái quá mức. (Parents should not give their children too much free rein.)
  • Hắn bị quản thúc nhưng gần đây đã được thả lỏng hơn. (He was under house arrest but has recently been given more freedom.)

Advanced Usage

• "thả lỏng tinh thần": to relax mentally, to let one's mind unwind.

  • Một kỳ nghỉ để thả lỏng tinh thần là rất cần thiết. (A holiday to relax mentally is very necessary.)

• "thả lỏng chính sách": to loosen a policy, to relax regulations.

  • Chính phủ thả lỏng chính sách nhập khẩu. (The government loosened the import policy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thả (v): to release, to let go.
  • Thả diều (v): to fly a kite.
• Lỏng lẻo (adj): loose, slack, not tight or strict.
  • Kỷ luật lỏng lẻo (n): lax discipline.

Synonyms

• Relax: to make or become less tense or rigid.
• Loosen: to make less strict or severe.
• Give free rein: to allow complete freedom.
• Release (from custody): to allow to leave confinement under conditions.

Related Idioms

• Thả lỏng lương tâm: to let one's conscience be lax; to ignore one's moral compass.
  • Anh ta đã thả lỏng lương tâm để làm việc đó. (He let his conscience be lax to do that.)

verb

1. to let loose, to set loose