cool down

1. Also, cool off.

2. Effect a lower temperature, especially of the body following vigorous exercise. For example, After a race the coach makes the entire team do stretches to cool down , or Let's take a dip to cool off . These phrases date from a.d. 1000 with reference to the weather or cooking (as in First let the eggs cool off ). The first gained renewed currency with the exercise boom of the late 1900s.

3. See cool off , def. 2.

Example Sentences

A man pushing a cooler full of 50-cent bottled waters wiped sweat from his forehead and tried to cool down with a Spanish fan.

From Los Angeles Times

Irish language was a major bone of contention for years between Sinn Féin and the DUP and this upcoming court battle has reignited the tensions that had mostly cooled down.

From BBC

He said: "I don't like it. If I'm hot I try and cool down a bit. I have a lot of drinks. I get very hot and I sweat like anything."

From BBC

Once your pet has started to cool down, contact your vet for guidance and possible further treatment.

From BBC

County officials said they were encouraging landlords to cool down units through “passive,” environmentally-friendly methods other than air conditioners.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• decrease 
• define 
• diminish 
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• impede 
• inhibit 
• limit 
• narrow 
• reduce 
• regulate 
• restrain 
• shorten