cooler
B1Informal, everyday for the container; slang for jail.
Definition
Meaning
a container or device used to keep things cool, especially beverages or food.
A large, insulated container for keeping food and drinks cold, often used outdoors; (informal) a prison cell or jail.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The container sense is dominant and neutral. The jail sense is informal, originating from US slang. Can also refer to a wine cooler (a chilled, diluted drink).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'cool box' is a common synonym for the container. The jail sense is understood but less frequent than in US usage.
Connotations
US: Strongly associated with picnics, tailgating, beaches. UK: More likely 'cool box' for the container; 'cooler' may sound slightly American.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English for the container. The jail sense is almost exclusively American slang.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + cooler: pack/bring/open/load the cooler[adjective] + cooler: full/portable/leaking coolercooler + [preposition] + [noun]: cooler of beer, cooler with wheelsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cooler heads will prevail”
- “in the cooler (slang for in jail)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in retail for the product category ('outdoor cooler sales').
Academic
Very rare; specific technical uses in engineering (e.g., 'heat cooler').
Everyday
Very common for the portable container.
Technical
A device for cooling, e.g., 'CPU cooler', 'evaporative cooler'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The weather is getting cooler in the evenings.
American English
- We need a cooler place to sit in this heat.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We put the drinks in the cooler.
- Don't forget to bring the cooler to the beach picnic.
- The suspect spent the night in the cooler before his hearing.
- The latest portable coolers feature solar-powered thermoelectric cooling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COOLER has two 'O's like two ice cubes floating in a drink.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR COLD IS A COOLER (The cold is metaphorically held inside the box).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'кулер' (which is a water dispenser) for the container sense. Use 'сумка-холодильник' or 'холодильник для пикника'. The jail sense has no direct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cooler' to mean a person who is cool. Confusing it with 'cooler' as the comparative form of 'cool' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
In informal American slang, 'the cooler' can mean:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can also keep food cold, like sandwiches, fruit, or salads.
A cooler is for storing multiple items with ice, while a thermos is an insulated container for keeping a single liquid hot or cold.
Yes, but as 'cooler' (comparative form of 'cool'), not as the noun meaning a container. E.g., 'Today is cooler than yesterday.'
No. A 'wine cooler' is a chilled alcoholic beverage. A 'cooler' (or 'wine cooler') can also be the device used to chill a bottle of wine.
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