playing it cool
Acting casually unbothered
Playing it cool is deliberately appearing calm, unconcerned, or emotionally uninvested—especially when you actually care quite a bit.
The phrase often describes romantic contexts where someone avoids seeming too eager: She's interested but she's playing it cool.
It can also mean staying composed under pressure: The cops were asking questions but he played it cool.
- nonchalanceCalm, casual composure
- calmnessPeaceful mental state
- tactSensitivity in speech
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
- no sweatCasual assurance of ease
keeping calm · effortlessness · charisma · smooth operator · self-control · diplomacy · discretion · aloofness · sophistication · blasé · unfazed · poker face · straight face · patience · sangfroid · laid back · elegance · subtlety
- emotional maskingmasking, suppression, repression, hiding, bottling up
playing it coolfreaking out
Losing emotional control suddenly
flying off the handle · blowing up · going ballistic · making a scene · getting worked up
playing it coolcoming on strong
Aggressively expressing interest
chasing · begging · going all in · groveling · fawning
play, playing, played, plays, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness