| Abate |
The Telegraph Quick |
10 Aug 2026 |
| Become less severe |
The Atlantic |
12 Apr 2026 |
| Become less harsh |
New York Times Midi |
04 Apr 2026 |
| Slacken |
New York Times |
08 Feb 2026 |
| Relax |
Universal |
22 Jan 2026 |
| Become less intense |
USA Today |
21 Jun 2025 |
| "Take a chill pill" |
USA Today |
20 Apr 2025 |
| De-intensify (2 wds.) |
|
|
| Be less ruthless |
|
|
| Relax |
LA Times Daily |
09 Feb 2025 |
| Stop without leader ahead and lessen intensity (4,2) |
|
|
| Lessen intensity (4,2) |
|
|
| Become less intense |
LA Times Daily |
27 Nov 2024 |
| Become less severe |
Universal |
24 Jul 2024 |
| Be less strict |
|
|
| Become less acute (4,2) |
|
|
| Loosen, as enforcement of rules (2 wds.) |
|
|
| Lessen, as pressure |
LA Times Daily |
29 Feb 2024 |
| De-intensify |
Premier Sunday |
13 Aug 2023 |
| Make less challenging |
Universal |
25 Oct 2022 |
| Slacken |
New York Times |
18 Oct 2022 |
| Become less harsh |
New York Times |
02 May 2022 |
| Become laxer |
Thomas Joseph |
31 Mar 2022 |
| 'Take a chill pill' |
|
|
| "Take a chill pill" |
LA Times Daily |
26 Mar 2022 |
| Lessen the pressure |
USA Today |
19 Jan 2022 |
| 'Stop being so harsh!' |
USA Today |
22 Dec 2021 |
| Make less difficult |
USA Today |
12 Dec 2021 |
| Soften some |
Newsday |
26 Sep 2021 |
| Become less demanding |
Wall Street Journal |
08 Sep 2021 |
| Lighten |
Thomas Joseph |
21 Jul 2021 |
| Slacken |
Thomas Joseph |
23 Apr 2021 |
| Relax |
LA Times Daily |
06 Dec 2020 |
| Moderate |
Wall Street Journal |
05 Sep 2020 |
| Make simpler |
Newsday |
19 Aug 2020 |
| Relax, popping ecstasy in each drink |
The Telegraph Toughie |
13 May 2020 |
| Abate |
Wall Street Journal |
02 May 2020 |
| Relent a bit |
Newsday |
14 Apr 2020 |
| "Stop ridin' me!" |
|
|
| Become less intense |
|
|
| Soften |
Premier Sunday |
05 Feb 2017 |
| Go slower |
New York Times |
01 Dec 2016 |
| Show some leniency |
New York Times |
29 Oct 2016 |
| Relax and pause going round about the Orient |
|
|
| Lessen |
Premier Sunday |
31 Jul 2016 |
| Cut some slack |
Universal |
13 May 2016 |
| Soften |
New York Times |
25 Feb 2016 |
| Go slower |
|
|
| Show some leniency |
|
|
| Lower the intensity |
|
|
| Lower the intensity |
|
|
| Relax |
|
|
| Relax |
|
|
| De-intensify |
|
|
| "Take a chill pill!" |
|
|
| Relent |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Be a bit less critical |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Slack off |
|
|
| Relax |
|
|
| Lower the intensity |
|
|
| Show a little mercy |
|
|
| Become moderate |
|
|
| Put the brakes on |
|
|
| Soften |
|
|
| Moderate |
|
|
| Fall off |
|
|
| Slack off |
|
|
| "Chill!" |
|
|
| Lower the intensity |
|
|
| Relax |
|
|
| Become less intense |
|
|
| Slacken |
|
|
| Back off |
|
|
| Slacken |
|
|
| "Back off!" |
|
|
| Subside |
|
|
| Go light (on) |
|
|
| Get lighter |
|
|
| Not be so hard |
|
|
| Slacken |
|
|
| Soften |
|
|
| "Back off!" |
|
|
| Relent |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Abate |
|
|
| Go light (on) |
|
|
| Taper off |
|
|
| Relax |
|
|
| Lessen |
|
|
| Moderate |
|
|
| Relax the rules |
|
|
| Make less severe |
|
|
| Moderate. |
|
|
| Pull back a bit |
|
|
| Lessen. |
|
|
| Slacken. |
|
|
| Relax. |
|
|
| "Leave me alone!" |
|
|