lockern
to loosen
To make something that is tight or tense less tight.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Autofahrt lockerte er seinen Gürtel.
After the long car ride, he loosened his belt.
lockern
to loosen
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Meanings
lockern
to loosen / relax
To make rules, laws, or restrictions less strict; to lift or ease them.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung hat angekündigt, die Kontaktbeschränkungen zu lockern.
The government has announced that it will loosen the contact restrictions.
sich lockern
to come loose
To become loose or less tight by itself.
EXAMPLE
Eine Schraube am Regal hat sich gelockert und muss wieder festgezogen werden.
A screw on the shelf has come loose and needs to be tightened again.
lockern
to loosen up
To relax muscles or joints through movement and make them more flexible.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Joggen sollte man sich mit ein paar Übungen lockern.
Before jogging, you should loosen up with a few exercises.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'lockern' (to loosen) is derived from the adjective 'locker' (loose/relaxed). So it means to make something 'locker' or to put it into a loose or relaxed state.
EXAMPLE
Die Stimmung auf der Party lockerte sich nach einer Weile.
The mood at the party loosened up after a while.
Transitive and reflexive
'Lockern' (to loosen) can be used transitively ('jemand lockert etwas' — someone loosens something) or reflexively ('etwas lockert sich' — something comes loose). Transitively, it means actively making something less tight. Reflexively, it means that something becomes loose by itself or that you relax your own body.
EXAMPLE
Der Mechaniker lockerte die Schrauben am Rad.
The mechanic loosened the screws on the wheel.
Typical collocations
In the concrete meaning, 'lockern' (to loosen) is often combined with things that can be tightened. Typical objects are: 'einen Gürtel lockern' (to loosen a belt), 'einen Knoten lockern' (to loosen a knot), 'eine Krawatte lockern' (to loosen a tie), or 'den Griff lockern' (to loosen one's grip).
EXAMPLE
Er lockerte seine Krawatte, weil es im Raum sehr warm war.
He loosened his tie because it was very warm in the room.
Abstract use
In the figurative sense, 'lockern' (to loosen/relax) is used for abstract concepts. Common combinations are: 'die Regeln lockern' (to loosen the rules), 'die Maßnahmen lockern' (to relax the measures), or 'die Beschränkungen lockern' (to loosen the restrictions).
EXAMPLE
Die Firma plant, die strengen Kleidervorschriften zu lockern.
The company plans to loosen the strict dress code.
Reflexive for the body
When referring to the body, 'lockern' (to loosen up) is used reflexively ('sich lockern' — to loosen up) or with body parts as the object. It describes relaxing the muscles, often before or after doing sports.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Laufen lockere ich immer meine Beinmuskulatur.
Before running, I always loosen up my leg muscles.
Compare with
lockern vs lösen
to solve / loosen
Both verbs can make something fastened less tight, but lockern initially only means that it becomes less taut. Lösen usually goes further and refers to opening or undoing the fastening. Use lockern when it should still hold, and lösen when it is to be opened or removed.
lockern
Vor dem Waschen lockerte er den Knoten nur ein wenig.
Before washing it, he loosened the knot just a little.
lösen
Vor dem Waschen löste er den Knoten vollständig.
Before washing it, he completely untied the knot.
In real life
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