cool (redirected from coolness)

be as cool as a cucumber (humorous)

to be very calm and relaxed, especially in a difficult situation. I expected him to be all nervous before his interview but he was as cool as a cucumber.

See also: cucumber

a cool customer (informal)

someone who stays calm and does not show their emotions, even in a difficult situation. I can imagine Pete being good at negotiating. He's a pretty cool customer.

See also: customer

a cool head

the ability to stay calm and think clearly in a difficult situation. These are high pressure situations and you have to keep a cool head.

See also: head

cool your heels

if someone leaves you to cool your heels, they force you to wait, often until you become calmer. The youths were left to cool their heels overnight in a police cell.

See also: heel

Cool it! (informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone to stop arguing or fighting. Hey, cool it, you guys, fighting's not going to solve anything.

keep your cool

to remain calm, especially in a difficult situation. If you see a difficult question in the exam, don't panic. Just keep your cool.

See also: keep

lose your cool

to suddenly become very angry and start shouting. I try to be patient with her but she was so irritating in that meeting, I just lost my cool.

See also: lose

play it cool (informal)

to pretend to be calmer, or to be less interested in something or someone, than you really are. Sometimes if you play it cool with a guy he gets more interested. Play it cool. Don't let them know how much you need the money. (often an order)

See also: play

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(as) cool as a cucumber

very calm and in control of your emotions. When everything seems to be going wrong, she stays as cool as a cucumber.

See also: cucumber

cool down

to stop feeling angry. After the girls were kept apart for a while, tempers cooled down and the shouting stopped. I was really angry, so I left the house and took a walk to cool off.

See also: down

cool your heels

to wait or to be kept waiting. Fans of the band were forced to cool their heels outside the theater for 90 minutes.

See also: heel

cool it

to relax or calm down. The best thing both sides can do is to cool it and then get back to talking about the problem. Hugh stepped between the two boys and told them to cool it.

Usage notes: often used as an order: Nikki, leave your brother alone, and, Josh, cool it!

keep your cool

to be calm despite danger or difficulty. Somehow I kept my cool even though Seldon's remarks were unfair and made me angry.

lose your cool

keep your shirt on

See also: keep

lose your cool

to suddenly become very angry and start shouting. I try to be patient with her but she made so many irritating comments, I absolutely lost my cool.

keep your cool

See also: lose

play it cool

to appear to be less interested in or excited than you really are. Hank played it cool and stood to the side while the president chatted with the other guests after the ceremony.

See also: play