Crossword Genius

Relax, sweetheart, when the sea is rough (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ease

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'relax' is the definition.
(eg to ease a restriction is to relax it)

'sweetheart when the sea is rough' is the wordplay.
'sweetheart when' becomes 'e' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'is rough' indicates anagramming the letters (a rough or broken ordering of the letters).
'sea' with letters rearranged gives 'ase'.
'e'+'ase'='EASE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ease that I've seen before include "Freedom from worry" , "Freedom from pain or anxiety" , "State of relaxation or rest" , "Reduce (pain)" , "Become less severe; facilitate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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