calm down

calm down

1. To relax or become less intense. Although this phrase can be applied to things or situations, it is often said as an imperative to one who is openly anxious, angry, or upset. I've been rocking the baby for hours, but I just can't get her to calm down and stop crying. Calm down—we'll be home before curfew. Work was chaotic during the merger, but things are finally calming down now.
2. To soothe someone or diffuse a tense situation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "calm" and "down." I've been rocking the baby for hours, but I just can't seem to calm her down. The therapy dog really seems to calm down our patients.
See also: calm, down
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

calm someone (or an animal) down

to cause someone or an animal to be less active, upset, or unsettled. Please try to calm yourself down! Can you calm down your yapping dog?
See also: calm, down

calm down

to relax; to become less busy or active. Now, now, calm down. You look so nervous. Please calm down. Nothing bad is going to happen.
See also: calm, down
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

calm down

v.
1. To become less agitated, active, or unsettled: When the wind calmed down, we went outside to assess the storm's damage.
2. To cause someone or something to become less angry, active, or unsettled: The leader calmed down the angry mob by addressing their complaints. Listening to music before going to bed calms me down and helps me sleep.
See also: calm, down
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • chill out
  • all the best
  • cool it
  • Cool it!
  • cool it, to
  • keep at
  • keep at (someone or something)
  • buck up
  • cough it up
  • Cough it up!
References in periodicals archive
Billy Ray Cyrus, (Remix) Old Town Road by Itaru Dela Vegas; Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, Senorita by Tatiana Van Sauter; Taylor Swift, You Need To Calm Down by Brittany Porter; Kanye West and Lil Pump ft.
Pop divas Taylor and Ariana lead VMA noms
Ms Cooper added: "I think David Cameron will learn women are not going to calm down. In fact, they are getting angrier and angrier and louder and louder and they will continue to do so until this Government drops their deeply unfair plans to turn their back on women."
'Women will get angrier'
Mr Cameron told Ms Eagle, one of the loudest hecklers: "Calm down, dear.
PM in furore over 'calm down' jibe
England captain David Beckham does his best to calm down Wayne Rooney against Northern Ireland
SPORTS BETTING: FOOTBALL: Rooney 16-1 to follow Becks' example
Winner's line "calm down, dear, it's only a commercial" was a popular advertising slogan in England.
Meet Mister Mouse
Mills contend that environmentalists should love nuclear power, free marketers should embrace hybrid cars, and we should all calm down about high oil prices.
Energy forever
Show them respect (once they calm down), and they will turn into kitty cats.
Parents on power trips
Spouting profanities at Kate, the future second wife takes Jessica to stay with her assistant so that she can try to calm down Cheryl.
No Simple Thing
No, no, come on, calm down. First of all, it's our duty to stay here and fight, don't you think?
Bill Maher
Arsene Wenger warned Sir Alex Ferguson to 'calm down' and stop fanning the flames of controversy ahead of Arsenal's visit to Manchester United this weekend, even though Patrick Vieira is set to be ruled out.
Football: Wenger's contrasting approach to big game
Now that they've both had time to calm down, it would do no harm for your mother to tell your sister that she regrets reacting so violently but feels that she deserved chastisement for crossing the boundaries of good behaviour.
The Mag: Ask Anna: PHOTO CASEBOOK: My mum and sister had a big bust-up
"These may actually calm down an important brain system linked to anxiety."
Comfort food calms, with weighty effect
If you experience a near-miss, pull in, calm down, and reflect on what happened before continuing your journey; 5.
Five ways to beat stress
A peaceful protest was broken up by a brazen alliance between the state and a nonunion employer." Fletcher says that Ken Riley, head of Local 1422, "had his head split open by a cop" for trying to calm down a heated exchange between one of his members and a police officer.
Justice for the Charleston Five
If the Israeli army stays restrained, then there's some hope that things will calm down.
Two Teens Talking