отдохнуть душой

• ОТДЫХАТЬ/ОТДОХНУТЬ ДУШОЙ <СЕРДЦЕМ>

[VP; subj: human]

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⇒ to free o.s. from anxiety and stress, often through a pleasant distraction:

- X отдыхал душой{{}}≈ X found peace of mind (inner peace);

- X's mind (soul) was at rest.

     ♦ Нажив миллионы, Жюль Дессер остался верен привычкам детства: он отдыхал душой, играя в шашки со стариком садовником... (Эренбург 4). Having made his millions, Desser remained faithful to the habits of his childhood. He found peace of mind over a game of chess with his old gardener (4a).

     ♦ [Ланцелот:] Ты их [твоих хозяев] не любишь? [Кот:] Люблю каждым волоском моего меха, и лапами, и усами, но им грозит огромное горе. Я отдыхаю душой, только когда они уходят со двора (Шварц 2). [L.:] Don't you like them [your masters]? [Cat:] I love them with every hair of my fur and with my paws and whiskers, too, but a terrible sorrow is in store for them. My mind is only at rest when they're out of the house (2a).