Cool MateCalming him down vs Settle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Calming him down
Top 2,000 (common)
Settle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Settle
| Calming him down | Settle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈkɑː.lm.ɪŋ hɪm daʊn//🇺🇸 //ˈkɑː.lm.ɪŋ hɪm daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsetl/","/ˈsetlz/","/ˈsetld/","/ˈsetlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsetl/","/ˈsetlz/","/ˈsetld/","/ˈsetlɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Making someone feel less angry or upset. | To make a decision or to end a disagreement. |
| Example | I tried calming him down after he received the bad news. | After a long day at work, I just want to settle on the couch and relax. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | calming techniques, calming music, calming presence | amicably, peacefully, eventually, attempt to, try to, agree to, for, on, with, an attempt to settle something, permanently, eventually, finally, decide to, intend to, be densely settled, be sparsely settled, be ready to settle down, permanently, eventually, finally, decide to, intend to, be densely settled, be sparsely settled, be ready to settle down, comfortably, happily, peacefully, be unable to, cannot, allow somebody to, settle down to do something, comfortably, happily, peacefully, be unable to, cannot, allow somebody to, settle down to do something |
| Antonyms | - | disagree, disrupt, unsettle |
| Common mistakes | Saying 'calm down him' instead of 'calm him down'., Using it for situations that don't involve emotion., Confusing it with 'calm' as a standalone adjective. | Confusing 'settle' with 'settle down' which means to start a family., Using 'settle' without an object when it needs one., Confusing the past tense forms 'settled' and 'setled'. |
| Usage notes | Typically used in informal contexts when someone is anxious or angry. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'settle' when talking about resolving issues or moving to a place. It's appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. Avoid it in highly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Calming him down vs Settle
What's the difference between Calming him down and Settle?
Calming him down: Making someone feel less angry or upset. Settle: To make a decision or to end a disagreement.
Which is more common: Calming him down and Settle?
Settle is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Calming him down: I tried calming him down after he received the bad news. Settle: After a long day at work, I just want to settle on the couch and relax.
Can I use Calming him down and Settle interchangeably?
Not always. Calming him down and Settle are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.