Idiom
Cool your jets
Cool your jets means calm down, relax or be patient, usually said to someone who is getting too excited or angry.
How people use it
It is casual American slang, usually said as a command: "Cool your jets, the movie doesn't start for an hour." It can be playful between friends or a bit sharp if someone is overreacting. It can also mean slow down when someone is rushing ahead. Because it can sound dismissive, it is best kept for people you know well. Similar phrases are "chill out" and "hold your horses."
Examples
- Cool your jets, Leo; the bus won't leave without you.
- My sister told me to cool my jets when I started yelling at the TV.
- The manager asked everyone to cool their jets and wait for the full report.
Where it comes from
The phrase is American slang that became popular in the 1970s. It pictures a jet engine running hot and needing to cool down, a fitting image for a person who is all fired up. No single first use is known.
Check yourself
1. What does "Cool your jets" mean?
Answer: Calm down. Cool your jets tells someone to relax or slow down.
2. When would a friend most likely say it?
Answer: When you are getting too worked up. The phrase is used to calm someone who is excited, angry or impatient.
Similar idioms
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