View synonyms for at ease

at ease

In a relaxed position in military ranks. The phrase is often used as a command for troops standing at attention to relax, as in At ease, squadron . The command stand at ease is slightly different. A British military dictionary of 1802 described it as standing with the right foot drawn back about six inches and one's weight put on it. An American version is to stand with one's feet slightly apart and the hands clasped behind one's back.
Also, at one's ease . Comfortable, relaxed, unembarrassed, as in I always feel at ease in my grandmother's house . The related idiom put at ease means “make comfortable, reassure,” as in I was worried that the letter would not arrive in time, but the postmaster put me at ease . [1300s] For the antonym, see ill at ease .

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The chancellor seemed what can only be described as nervously-at-ease throughout the encounter with the six children.

He seemed a bit ill-at-ease at first but warmed to the task as the briefing went on.

Tressan was monstrous ill-at-ease, and his face lost a good deal of its habitual plethora of colour.

Cathcart coughed and was obviously ill-at-ease, but he answered with some show of dignity.

They will remain ill-at-ease until, somewhere in the heights where Mediunah is preparing for another day, a cock crows.

He was ill-at-ease, almost incoherent at moments, and it was a long time before she could discover his business.

He was spending his declining years in the arduous but surprisingly successful task of being wretched, irritable and ill-at-ease.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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