Cool MateKick back and chill vs Relax
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Kick back and chill
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Relax
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: RelaxMost common: Relax
| Kick back and chill | Relax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kɪk bæk ənd tʃɪl//🇺🇸 //kɪk bæk ənd tʃɪl// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Relax and enjoy time off. | To make yourself feel calm and not stressed. |
| Example | After a long week, it's great to just kick back and chill on the weekend. | After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | kick back with friends, kick back and relax, kick back after work, kick back and enjoy, kick back on weekends | completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself |
| Antonyms | - | stress, tense, worry |
| Common mistakes | Using in a formal situation., Confusing with 'kick up', which means to increase something., Overusing in the same conversation. | 'Relax' is sometimes confused with 'release' as if both mean the same thing., Learners may forget to use an object, saying just 'I relax' instead of 'I relax myself'., Some might use 'relax' inappropriately with a negative tone, which can sound confusing. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations, often among friends or in a relaxed setting. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Use 'relax' when talking about making oneself calm. It's suitable for most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal occasions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Kick back and chill vs Relax
What's the difference between Kick back and chill and Relax?
Kick back and chill: Relax and enjoy time off. Relax: To make yourself feel calm and not stressed.
Which is more formal: Kick back and chill and Relax?
Relax is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Kick back and chill and Relax?
Relax is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Kick back and chill: After a long week, it's great to just kick back and chill on the weekend. Relax: After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book.
Can I use Kick back and chill and Relax interchangeably?
Not always. Kick back and chill and 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.