Chill out means to relax and do nothing much; as a command, it means “calm down”. It's informal: people use it when telling friends about a weekend or an evening at home. Said on its own to someone who is nervous or angry, Chill out! sounds a bit sharp, as if you're telling them they're making a fuss about nothing.
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chill out (at home / with friends); chill out! = calm down; a chill-out zone / chill-out music
- After the exam we just chilled out at Anna's place and watched old films.
- On holiday I don't want a busy plan; I want to chill out by the sea.
- Chill out, the train is only five minutes late.
What changed
First versionDear Ms Clark, please chill out. The documents will arrive tomorrow.
RevisionDear Ms Clark, please don't worry. The documents will arrive tomorrow.
In a message to a client, colleague or teacher, chill out sounds overfamiliar and even rude, as if the reader had panicked over nothing. A neutral alternative is don't worry or there is no need to worry. The rest of the sentence stays the same.
Calm down as a command can also upset someone who is already stressed. It's gentler to say It's OK, don't worry. When you mean “relax”, people often just say chill, without out: We're just chilling at home tonight.
Your turn
My brother was shouting about a parking ticket, so I told him to ___ and sit down.
Show the answer
chill out — Your brother is shouting and needs to calm down, so chill out fits. Hang out means to spend time with people, and it has nothing to do with asking someone to calm down.
Describe how you relax after a hard week. Say where you do it and who with.
After a hard week I like to chill out at my parents' house with my sister and our dog.
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