English for Students

chill out

One of my teachers keeps telling us to chill out. What exactly does he mean by that?

Well, if your teacher is asking you to chill out, it says a lot about your class. Are you a noisy bunch? Do you and your friends talk non-stop in class? Do you allow your teacher say his piece? If the teacher has to use the expression chill out very often in class, then chances are you are not allowing him to talk in class! By asking you to chill out, the teacher is asking you to calm down, to relax - in other words he is pleading with you to stop talking! The plight of most teachers these days!

Here are a few examples.

• Most people like to chill out during weekends.

• The argument was turning nasty. So I told the guys to chill out.

• You have had a pressure packed week. Take a couple of days off and chill out.




COURTESY : The Hindu (The National News-Paper) - India




It is also possible to say chill. Chill out and chill both mean the same thing. Chillin is another word, which is used very often in American English. Any idea what it means? It means great or excellent.

Here are a few examples.

• I made some chillin’ friends during the holidays.

• Asmara said that she had a chillin’ time yesterday.

• The movie was chillin'.

By the way, all three expressions are used in informal contexts.

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