at ease

1. Calm and comfortable with a particular task or in a certain environment. She seems much more at ease now that she's been doing her new job for a month. Kids are usually at ease once they become accustomed to the routine of kindergarten.

2. In relaxed posture, as of soldiers in the military. At ease, gentlemen!

1. 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.

2. 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.

1. In a relaxed position, especially standing silently at rest with the right foot stationary: put the soldiers at ease while waiting for inspection.

2. Used as a command for troops to assume a relaxed position.