Looking up...
sciogliere la tensione
/ˈʃɔʎ.ʎe la tenˈsjoː.ne/
to ease the tension
Per sciogliere la tensione prima dell'intervista, Marco ha fatto una battuta.
To ease the tension before the interview, Marco made a joke.
informal
To reduce or eliminate nervousness, stress, or awkwardness in a social or formal situation.
Il professore ha cercato di sciogliere la tensione con una domanda semplice.
The professor tried to ease the tension with a simple question.
Dopo il litigio, ci siamo abbracciati per sciogliere la tensione.
After the argument, we hugged to ease the tension.
Often used in contexts where people feel uncomfortable or anxious, such as meetings, social gatherings, or before difficult conversations.
Collocations
sciogliere la tensione con una battutato ease the tension with a jokesciogliere la tensione tra due personeto ease the tension between two people
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use this phrase
Use 'sciogliere la tensione' when referring to actively reducing stress or awkwardness in a group or between individuals. It is not used for physical tension (e.g., muscle tension), which would require 'tensione muscolare' or 'tensione fisica'.
Gold Rule
Avoid literal translation
Do not translate 'sciogliere la tensione' as 'to melt the tension,' as this would sound unnatural in English. The correct translation is 'to ease the tension' or 'to relieve the tension.'
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'sciogliere' (to dissolve, melt, or release) and 'tensione' (tension, stress). 'Sciogliere' derives from Latin 'solvere' (to loosen, dissolve), while 'tensione' comes from Latin 'tensio' (stretching, strain). The metaphorical use of 'sciogliere' to mean 'to resolve' or 'to ease' dates back to the 14th century in Italian.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts. It implies an active effort to make a situation less stressful or uncomfortable, often through humor, kindness, or relaxation techniques.
Word Breakdown
sciogliere
to dissolve, melt, or release
verbla tensione
the tension
noun phraseDizionario Italiano-Inglese