Cool MateAt ease vs You weren't under an emotional stress
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
At ease
Top 3,000 (common)
You weren't under an emotional stress
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: At ease
| At ease | You weren't under an emotional stress | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ət iːz//🇺🇸 //ət iːz// | 🇬🇧 //juː ˈwɜːrənt ˈʌndər ən ɪˈməʊʃənl strɛs//🇺🇸 //juː ˈwɜːrnt ˈʌndər ən ɪˈmoʊʃənl strɛs// |
| Meaning | To feel relaxed and comfortable. | You were not feeling emotional pressure. |
| Example | After a long day, I felt completely at ease in my favorite chair. | After the meeting, she realized you weren't under an emotional stress. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | feel at ease, be at ease, make someone feel at ease | experiencing emotional stress, feeling under pressure, managing emotional stress |
| Antonyms | - | under emotional stress, emotionally overwhelmed |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'at peace' which has a different meaning., Used inappropriately in tense situations where relaxation isn't suitable. | Confused with terms related to physical stress., Used in a context when emotional stress is evident., Misunderstood as meaning 'you were calm' rather than 'no emotional stress was present.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'at ease' to refer to a relaxed state. Appropriate in both formal and casual contexts, but avoid in very serious situations. | Usually used when discussing someone's mental state. It's not appropriate in very casual conversations or when discussing physical stress. |
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Frequently asked questions: At ease vs You weren't under an emotional stress
What's the difference between At ease and You weren't under an emotional stress?
At ease: To feel relaxed and comfortable. You weren't under an emotional stress: You were not feeling emotional pressure.
Which is more common: At ease and You weren't under an emotional stress?
At ease is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
At ease: After a long day, I felt completely at ease in my favorite chair. You weren't under an emotional stress: After the meeting, she realized you weren't under an emotional stress.
Can I use At ease and You weren't under an emotional stress interchangeably?
Not always. At ease and You weren't under an emotional stress are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.