play it cool


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play it cool

To act calm, composed, and without much emotion, especially when something is wrong or one feels otherwise. A: "The cops are coming!" B: "Just play it cool! They have no reason to think we did anything wrong." Samantha played it cool during the storm, calmly directing people to safety and finding extra food and water for everyone.
See also: cool, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

play it cool

 
1. Inf. to do something while not revealing insecurities or incompetence; to act blase. Play it cool, man. Look like you belong there. If the boss walks in, just play it cool.
2. Inf. to hold one's temper. Come on now. Let it pass. Play it cool. Don't let them get you mad. Play it cool.
See also: cool, play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

play it cool

1. Act cautiously and shrewdly, as in When they asked how much she earned, she played it cool. [Slang; 1940s]
2. Become or remain calm, as in When they start to tease you, just play it cool. [Slang; 1940s]
See also: cool, play
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

play it cool

COMMON If someone plays it cool, they keep calm and do not show much emotion. I thought I'd play it cool. Wait for him to ring. The idea seems to have been to play it cool, avoid forcing a crisis and rebuild support among neighbouring states.
See also: cool, play
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

play it cool

make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional. informal
See also: cool, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

play it ˈcool

(informal) not appear excited, worried, angry, etc: If you play it cool and don’t seem too interested, he might lower the price.He was shouting at me, but I played it cool — I didn’t want him to see how scared I was.
See also: cool, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

play it cool

1. tv. to do something while not revealing insecurities or incompetence. (see also cool.) If the boss walks in, just play it cool.
2. tv. to hold one’s temper. Come on now. Let it pass. Play it cool.
See also: cool, play
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Yet that's exactly who springs to mind as DeLaria growls and purrs her way through Randy Newman's "Life Has Been Good to Me." It's just one of the ear-opening surprises that makes Play It Cool an exhilarating jazz vocal debut.