Cool MateCalms it down vs Settle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Calms it down
Top 3,000 (common)
Settle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Settle
| Calms it down | Settle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kɑːmz ɪt daʊn//🇺🇸 //kɑmz ɪt daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsetl/","/ˈsetlz/","/ˈsetld/","/ˈsetlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsetl/","/ˈsetlz/","/ˈsetld/","/ˈsetlɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make it less intense or less upset. | To make a decision or to end a disagreement. |
| Example | The teacher calms it down when the students get too loud. | After a long day at work, I just want to settle on the couch and relax. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | calm it down quickly, calm it down a bit, calm it down gently | 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 | Using 'calm' without 'down' when expressing reduction of intensity., Confusing with 'cool down', which can have different meanings., Omitting the object when the subject is unclear. | 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 | Used in informal contexts when helping someone relax or reducing tension. Not ideal for very formal situations. | 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: Calms it down vs Settle
What's the difference between Calms it down and Settle?
Calms it down: To make it less intense or less upset. Settle: To make a decision or to end a disagreement.
Which is more common: Calms it down and Settle?
Settle is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Calms it down: The teacher calms it down when the students get too loud. Settle: After a long day at work, I just want to settle on the couch and relax.
Can I use Calms it down and Settle interchangeably?
Not always. Calms it 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.