loose
not firmly fixed or tight
Not tight or strongly fixed in place; it can move or come off.
a loose [object/clothing]
- The table is wobbly because one of the legs is loose.
- These jeans are too loose around the waist.
- Make sure the lid isn't loose before you pick up the jar.
- I think I have a loose tooth and it hurts when I chew.
- The electrician fixed a loose connection in the wall socket.
- My shoes feel loose, so I tie them again.
- One screw is loose, and the chair moves.
- This shirt is too loose for me.
- Check that the cap is not loose on the bottle.
not strict or firmly controlled
Not very strict; allowing people to do many things in their own way.
loose [rules/control/structure]
- The school has very loose rules about what students can wear.
- Management kept loose control over the project, letting the team decide most details.
- The company’s loose structure makes it easy for people to move between departments.
- He grew up with loose discipline at home and could stay out as late as he wanted.
- My boss has loose rules about working from home.
- Their parents are loose with bedtimes.
- The club has loose membership rules.
- Security was too loose at the event.
free, not tied or contained
Not locked in, not tied, or not caught; free to move around.
[animal/person] is loose
- Several dangerous animals are still loose after the storm damaged the zoo.
- The police warned that the suspect was still loose in the city.
- A dog got loose from its yard and was running in the street.
- They set the birds loose and watched them fly away.
- Two prisoners are still loose.
- The horse got loose and ran into the field.
- Be careful; there is a snake loose in the house.
- They set the children loose in the playground.
not compact; in separate pieces
Not in one solid piece; made of many small parts that move easily.
loose [material/hair/etc.]
- Plant the seeds in loose soil so the roots can grow easily.
- Be careful walking on the loose gravel near the edge of the path.
- She shook out her braid and let her hair fall loose over her shoulders.
- We buy loose tea instead of tea bags because it has better flavor.
- There is a lot of loose sand on the road.
- I found some loose stones on the path.
- Her long hair was loose and not in a ponytail.
- I put the loose tea leaves in a small box.
not exact or precise
Not very exact or clear; only gives a general idea.
a loose [estimate/translation/definition]
- These numbers are only a loose estimate of the total cost.
- It’s a very loose translation that changes the tone of the original poem.
- I’m using the word "friend" in a loose sense here.
- The report gives only a loose definition of what counts as "success".
- I can give you a loose number, but not an exact price.
- This is a loose translation, but you can understand the story.
- He uses the term in a loose way.
- We only have a loose idea of the plan.
relaxed, not tense or stiff
Not tight or stiff; the body or movement feels easy and relaxed.
stay/keep [body part] loose
- Try to keep your shoulders loose while you breathe deeply.
- Golf coaches often tell players to have a loose swing.
- After stretching, my legs finally felt loose again.
- Boxers try to stay loose before a fight so they can move quickly.
- Shake your hands and keep them loose.
- The dancer’s body was loose and moved easily.
- He tries to stay loose before the exam.
- My neck is not loose; it feels very tight.
careless or not properly controlled
Not careful or strict enough about important things like facts, safety, or rules.
loose [talk/thinking/standards]
- The minister’s loose talk about war caused panic in the markets.
- They were criticized for being loose with the facts in the article.
- The company’s loose safety standards led to several accidents.
- There is a lot of loose thinking in that report, with no real evidence.
- His loose talk made people angry.
- The writer is loose with the truth.
- Loose safety rules can be very dangerous.
- This is loose thinking; it is not careful.
sexually promiscuous (disapproving)
Having sex with many people and not following traditional sexual rules; usually a negative or critical word.
a loose [woman/girl/lifestyle]
- The movie unfairly portrays her as a loose woman just because she dates several men.
- He accused her of leading a loose lifestyle, which many people found offensive.
- Descriptions of her as "loose" say more about the writer’s attitudes than about her behavior.
- Some people called her loose, but that was rude.
- He thinks any woman who goes to clubs is loose, which is not fair.
- The word "loose" for a person is often negative.
to release or set free
To let someone or something go free, or to send something out strongly.
to loose [something] (on [someone/something])
- The archer drew his bow and loosed an arrow into the sky.
- The commander loosed his troops on the enemy at dawn.
- She loosed a wild scream when she heard the news.
- The hunter loosed an arrow at the target.
- The general loosed his army on the city.
- He loosed a loud shout in the empty hall.
- Base: loose
- Comparative: looser
- Superlative: loosest
- Base: loose
- 3rd Person Singular: looses
- Present Participle: loosing
- Past: loosed
a loose cannon
1dangerously unpredictable person
A person who is hard to control and may cause problems because they act in wild or unpredictable ways.
- The new player is a bit of a loose cannon both on and off the field.
- Some voters see him as a loose cannon who could damage the party’s image.
- She can be a loose cannon in meetings, saying things that surprise everyone.
at a loose end
1unsure what to do with time
Having no plans or work and not knowing what to do with your time. (Mainly British English.)
- If you’re at a loose end this afternoon, why don’t you come over for coffee?
- He always feels at a loose end when his girlfriend is away for the weekend.
- I was at a loose end on Sunday, so I went for a long walk.
at loose ends
1having free time with no plans
Having free time with no plans and feeling unsure what to do. (Mainly American English.)
- I’m at loose ends this evening, so I might watch a movie.
- She found herself at loose ends after she quit her job.
- If you’re at loose ends this weekend, give me a call.
cut loose
1to free yourself and act freely
To stop being controlled or careful and behave in a very free, fun, or wild way; or to separate yourself from someone’s control.
- Everyone’s been working so hard; they just want to go out and cut loose tonight.
- She finally cut loose from her controlling parents and moved to another city.
- On Fridays, people in the office tend to cut loose a bit and joke around.
hang loose
1relax and stay calm
To relax, not worry, and not rush; to be calm and take things easy.
- Just hang loose and enjoy the weekend.
- We’re not in a hurry, so let’s hang loose for a while at the café.
- He told me to hang loose until he called back with more information.
loose change
1small coins carried separately
Small coins that you carry in your pocket, bag, or a container, not arranged in rolls.
- I found some loose change under the sofa.
- Do you have any loose change for the parking meter?
- He keeps his loose change in a jar by the door.
loose ends
1small unfinished details
Small parts of a plan, project, or situation that are not finished or not decided yet.
- We just need to tie up a few loose ends before we can launch the website.
- The report is almost done, but there are still some loose ends to deal with.
- She spent the afternoon tying up loose ends at work before her vacation.
on the loose
1free and not under control
Free and not controlled or caught, especially after escaping.
- Several prisoners are still on the loose after last night’s riot.
- There’s a bear on the loose near the campsite, so stay inside your cabins.
- The police warned that the attacker was on the loose and could be dangerous.
play fast and loose (with)
1act carelessly or dishonestly
To act in a careless or dishonest way with something important, such as rules, facts, or other people’s feelings.
- The company has been playing fast and loose with safety regulations.
- You can’t play fast and loose with the truth in a court of law.
- Politicians should not play fast and loose with people’s hopes.
let loose
1act freely without control
To behave in an uncontrolled or free way, often for fun.
- After the exams, we all went out and let loose.
- She really lets loose when she dances.
let loose
2to release or fully express
To allow something or someone to be free, or to express feelings, emotions, or energy very strongly.
- The children were finally let loose in the park after the long car ride.
- He let loose a stream of angry words at the referee.
- As soon as the music started, the crowd let loose and began to dance.