Cool MateCalm down vs Try to relax
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Calm down
Top 1,000 (very common)
Try to relax
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Calm down
| Calm down | Try to relax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kɑːm daʊn//🇺🇸 //kɑm daʊn// | 🇬🇧 //traɪ tə rɪˈlæks//🇺🇸 //traɪ tə rɪˈlæks// |
| Meaning | To relax or stop being upset. | Make an effort to calm down. |
| Example | You need to calm down before we continue this discussion. | After a long week, I always try to relax on the weekend. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | calm down the situation, calm down emotions, calm down quickly | try to relax, try to relax your mind, try to relax in nature |
| Antonyms | agitate, excite, disturb | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Calm down' can be used for things instead of people, which is incorrect., Confusing 'calm down' with 'cool off', which has a slightly different meaning., Using 'calm down' too aggressively can make someone feel worse. | Using 'try and relax' instead of 'try to relax'., Forgetting to use 'to' after 'try'., Using 'relaxing' instead of 'relax' in this phrase. |
| Usage notes | Use in situations where someone is anxious or angry. It’s neutral in tone, appropriate for friends, family, or colleagues, but can seem dismissive if not delivered carefully. | Used in informal contexts to suggest someone should calm down. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Calm down vs Try to relax
What's the difference between Calm down and Try to relax?
Calm down: To relax or stop being upset. Try to relax: Make an effort to calm down.
Which is more common: Calm down and Try to relax?
Calm down is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Calm down: You need to calm down before we continue this discussion. Try to relax: After a long week, I always try to relax on the weekend.
Can I use Calm down and Try to relax interchangeably?
Not always. Calm down and Try to relax 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.