"Plug" in the comic! Take things less seriously (7,2)

I believe the answer is:

lighten up

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'things less seriously' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'plug in the comic' is the wordplay.
'comic' indicates an anagram (an unusual or comical spelling).
'plug'+'in'+'the'='pluginthe'
'pluginthe' is an anagram of 'LIGHTEN UP'.

'take' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lighten up that I've seen before include "Unwind" , "Chill" , "Relax!" , "Plug in the fire" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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