Cool MateDon't worry about that vs Relax
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't worry about that
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Relax
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Relax
| Don't worry about that | Relax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt ˈwʌri əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //doʊnt ˈwɜri əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Don't be concerned about that. | To make yourself feel calm and not stressed. |
| Example | Don't worry about that; everything will be fine. | After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | worry about something, don't worry, stop worrying, worry too much | completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself |
| Antonyms | - | stress, tense, worry |
| Common mistakes | Using 'worry' with a subject (e.g., 'Don't you worry about that')., Confusing with 'Don't worry for that'., Overusing in formal emails where 'Please don't concern yourself' might be better. | 'Relax' is sometimes confused with 'release' as if both mean the same thing., Learners may forget to use an object, saying just 'I relax' instead of 'I relax myself'., Some might use 'relax' inappropriately with a negative tone, which can sound confusing. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used to reassure someone. Suitable for both casual and formal contexts but may be too informal for very serious situations. | Use 'relax' when talking about making oneself calm. It's suitable for most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal occasions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't worry about that vs Relax
What's the difference between Don't worry about that and Relax?
Don't worry about that: Don't be concerned about that. Relax: To make yourself feel calm and not stressed.
Which is more common: Don't worry about that and Relax?
Relax is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't worry about that: Don't worry about that; everything will be fine. Relax: After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book.
Can I use Don't worry about that and Relax interchangeably?
Not always. Don't worry about that and Relax 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.