Meaning & use
lower your inhibitions
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiom
to become less shy or self-conscious, so you feel freer to act or speak
Grammar: Used as an intransitive phrase; the possessive pronoun changes with the subject (lower my/your/his/her/our/their inhibitions).
Patterns
- lower your inhibitions
- something lowers your inhibitions
After a few drinks, people often lower their inhibitions and start dancing.
The relaxed atmosphere of the party helped her lower her inhibitions and talk to new people.
He found it easier to lower his inhibitions once he was among friends.
Common combinations
- lower your inhibitions
- A glass of wine might lower your inhibitions at a party.
- alcohol lowers inhibitions
- Doctors warn that alcohol lowers inhibitions and can lead to risky decisions.
- help someone lower their inhibitions
- The friendly host helped guests lower their inhibitions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- let your guard down
- This means to stop being defensive or cautious, often about emotions, while 'lower your inhibitions' focuses on becoming less shy and more willing to act.
- come out of your shell
- This means to become more outgoing and confident over time, whereas 'lower your inhibitions' can happen quickly, often due to a situation or substance.
Opposites
Commonly confused: lower your inhibitions or inhibition?
lower your inhibitions vs inhibition
Inhibition is the noun meaning a feeling of shyness or restraint; 'lower your inhibitions' uses the plural noun in a phrase.
Practice
After a few drinks, people often ______ their inhibitions and start dancing.
Choose one answer.
'Lower' is correct because it means to reduce or become less shy. 'Increase' is the opposite, and 'rise' is intransitive (you rise, but you don't rise your inhibitions).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lower your inhibitions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.