been keeping cool?

(Have you) been keeping cool?

A question about one's well-being in hot weather. A: "How have you been during this brutal heat wave? Been keeping cool?" B: "Oh yeah, thanks to the air conditioning in the office."

See also: been, keeping

keep cool

1. To stay calm. In this usage, a possessive pronoun is often used between "keep" and "cool." You know they're going to try to antagonize you during the debate, so just keep cool. I always try to keep my cool when dealing with the cable company.

2. Literally, to not get overly hot, as in hot weather. A: "How have you been during this brutal heat wave?" B: "Oh, keeping cool, thanks to the air conditioning in the office."

See also: cool, keep

(Have you) been keeping cool?

 and (Have you been) keeping cool?; You been keeping cool?

Inf. an inquiry about how someone is surviving very hot weather. Tom: What do you think of this hot weather? Been keeping cool? Sue: No, I like this weather just as it is. Mary: Keeping cool? Bill: Yup. Run the air-conditioning all the time.

See also: been, keeping