chill out
B1Informal, casual. Common in speech, social media, and informal writing. Avoid in formal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to relax, calm down, or become less tense or agitated.
To deliberately reduce one's activity or stress level; to spend time in a relaxed, informal manner; to calm someone else down.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a phrasal verb (imperative or infinitive). Can imply a remedy for being overly stressed, excited, or angry. Often connotes a casual, modern lifestyle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slightly more ingrained in American informal speech. The noun 'chill-out' (as in chill-out music/room) is equally recognized.
Connotations
Both associate it with youth culture and informality. In the UK, it might be perceived as slightly more influenced by American media.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties within appropriate informal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Imperative] Chill out![Intransitive] She needs to chill out.[Transitive, with object] Chill him out, he's panicking.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chill out, dude!”
- “Just chilling out.”
- “Chill-out zone.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Only in very casual internal communications ('Let's chill out about the deadline').
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Very common for suggesting relaxation or reducing stress.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You're getting too worked up—just chill out, mate.
- We spent the bank holiday just chilling out in the garden.
- He told the arguing players to chill out.
American English
- Dude, you need to chill out about the test.
- Let's chill out by the pool this afternoon.
- Can you chill the baby out? He's fussy.
adjective
British English
- They played some chill-out music in the lounge.
- The hotel had a lovely chill-out terrace.
American English
- It's perfect chill-out weather today.
- We hung out in his chill-out space in the basement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please chill out! Everything is okay.
- I like to chill out on Saturday.
- After the exam, I just want to chill out at home.
- You look stressed. You should chill out for a while.
- My boss told me to chill out about the minor error.
- We found a quiet café to chill out and talk.
- The initial panic subsided, and the markets began to chill out.
- He uses meditation as a way to chill out his overactive mind.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine putting something hot (your stress) into the fridge to CHILL it OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGITATION IS HEAT / RELAXATION IS COOLNESS. (cf. 'cool down', 'hot-headed').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'остудить наружу'. The closest is 'расслабиться', 'успокоиться'.
- Avoid using 'отдыхать' (to rest) if the context is specifically about calming from a state of agitation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Incorrect separation: 'Chill it out' is possible but 'chill out it' is wrong.
- Overusing with non-human subjects ('The computer needs to chill out').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'chill out' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be perceived as dismissive or patronising if said to someone who is legitimately upset. Tone and relationship are key. 'You need to chill out' is riskier than 'Let's chill out'.
Yes, in many contexts ('Chill!', 'Let's chill'), 'chill' alone has absorbed the same meaning, especially among younger speakers.
'Chill-out' (often hyphenated) as in 'a chill-out room' or 'chill-out music' (ambient, relaxing music).
'Chill out' is more informal and often implies a response to specific stress or excitement. 'Relax' is neutral and can be used in all registers and for general states.