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to play it cool
01
to act calmly in order to hide one's anger, enthusiasm, fear, etc. from others
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "play it cool" and when to use it?
The idiom "play it cool" has its origin in jazz music culture during the mid-20th century. It refers to the act of maintaining a calm, composed, and nonchalant demeanor, especially in situations that may elicit excitement, nervousness, or anticipation. Over time, this phrase has become more widely used to describe any situation where someone deliberately acts detached or indifferent to project a sense of confidence or to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
Examples
Despite winning the lottery, he decided to play it cool and kept the news to himself.
When asked about the upcoming competition, she played it cool, casually mentioning that she was looking forward to the challenge.
