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cool out

C1 slang separable transitive/intransitive

To relax, calm down, or to calm someone else down; chiefly informal American English.

In plain English

To relax and stop being stressed or excited, or to help someone else do so.

What does "cool out" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 C1 idiomatic slang

To relax and stop being tense, worried, or excited.

"Just cool out — the results won't be posted until tomorrow."

inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic slang

To calm someone else down or defuse a tense situation.

"The manager stepped in to cool out the arguing customers."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To cool until completely cooled out.

Actually means

To relax and stop being stressed or excited, or to help someone else do so.

Usage tip

Primarily American informal/slang. Less common than 'chill out' or 'cool off.' Can be used both reflexively ('cool out') and transitively ('cool someone out'). Has some currency in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and in music culture.

Words that pair with "cool out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

situation crowd temper nerves

How to conjugate "cool out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
cool out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cools out
he/she/it
Past simple
cooled out
yesterday
Past participle
cooled out
have + pp
-ing form
cooling out
continuous

Hear "cool out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "cool out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "cool out"

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Keep exploring

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