cool down
cool down
1. verb Literally, to become cooler in temperature. The brownies just came out of the oven and need to cool down before we can eat them. When it's hot out, the cat tries to cool down by sitting directly in front of the air conditioner.
2. verb To cause something to become cooler in temperature. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cool" and "down." A: "Why is there an ice cube in your soup?" B: "I'm trying to cool it down!" Make sure you cool down the broccoli in ice water after you boil it.
3. verb To calm down, typically from anger. Don't talk to your mother like that! Go to your room and cool down! I'm sorry for my outburst—I just need some time to cool down.
4. verb To cause someone to become calmer. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cool" and "down." If you insist on talking to your mother that way, I think a punishment is the only thing that will cool you down. That break seemed to cool down James—he's no longer yelling at the staff.
5. verb To become less intensely passionate. I think they just broke up because things had cooled down between them.
6. verb To slow down in preparation for the end of an exercise routine or vigorous activity. Near the end of class, the instructor has us cool down by riding our bikes at a slower pace.
7. noun The slower part of an exercise routine or vigorous activity that precedes its ending. In this usage, the phrase is often written as one word. Is it time for the cooldown yet? I can barely breathe!
See also: cool, down
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
cool someone down
and cool someone off1. Lit. to cool someone by reducing the heat or applying something cold. Here, have a cold drink. Cool yourself down. The ice finally cooled down the feverish child. We need to cool off the pudding in a hurry.
2. Fig. to reduce someone's anger. (Reducing the "heat" of anger.) I just stared at him while he was yelling. I knew that would cool him down. The coach talked to them for a long time. That cooled them off.
3. Fig. to reduce someone's passion or love. (Reducing the "heat" of passion.) When she slapped him, that really cooled him down. Seeing Mary was too intense, so Bill cooled himself off by breaking it off for a while.
See also: cool, down
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
cool down
Also, cool off.
1. Effect a lower temperature, especially of the body following vigorous exercise. For example, After a race the coach makes the entire team do stretches to cool down, or Let's take a dip to cool off. These phrases date from a.d. 1000 with reference to the weather or cooking (as in First let the eggs cool off). The first gained renewed currency with the exercise boom of the late 1900s.
2. See cool off, def. 2.
See also: cool, down
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
cool down
v.
1. To become cooler: We sat in the shade to cool down. As soon as the pie cools down, we can eat it.
2. To make something cooler: She cooled down her coffee with an ice cube. He turned on the fan to cool the room down.
3. To gradually relax after a period of physical exertion: We walked around the track to cool down after our two-mile run.
4. To become less angry or contentious: Let's discuss this after you cool down a bit.
5. To cause someone or something to become less angry or contentious: The mediator cooled down the disputing parties. The principal cooled the angry students down.
See also: cool, down
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
cool down
in. to calm down. Now, just cool down. Chill, chill. Everything’s gonna be real cool.
See also: cool, down
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- cool off
- close up
- break out
- fall out
- fallout
- dig at
- dig at (someone or something)
- check out
- check out, to
- check something out