Hammer and tongs is a phrase that means to put a lot of effort and energy into doing something. The antonyms for this phrase are calm, relaxed, and mild-mannered. When a person is calm, they are not putting a lot of energy into something, and they are taking their time to complete it. When a person is relaxed, they are not exerting themselves, and they are doing things at a slower pace. Mild-mannered people are not aggressive or intense, and they do not put a lot of force into their actions. These are the opposite of hammer and tongs, and they can be useful in different situations.