Main entry: strain, tense, tense up
Definition: cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
Usage: he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
Main entry: tense, tense up
Definition: become tense, nervous, or uneasy
Usage: He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
Antonyms: unbend, loosen up, decompress, unwind, relax, slow down
Definition: become less tense, rest, or take one's ease