take a chill pill
Stop freaking out
Take a chill pill is a slang expression telling someone to calm down, relax, or stop overreacting.
It emerged in the 1980s when the metaphorical "chill pill" suggested a hypothetical sedative that would mellow someone out.
The phrase is typically directed at someone who is upset, anxious, or worked up over something the speaker considers minor.
Take a chill pill—it's just a game.
Though dated, it remains in casual use, often with a playful or dismissive tone.
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- calm downBecome less agitated
- mellowingGradually becoming softer
- calmFree from agitation
unwinding · deep breaths · idiomatic expression · colloquialism · simmer down · slang · idiom · informal speech · humor · 1980s · overreacting · soothing · composure · pop culture · de-stressing · stress relief · no big deal · don't panic
take a chill pillfreak out
React with extreme alarm
panic · lose your cool · fly off the handle · go ballistic · flip out
take a chill pillsound the alarm
spring into action · wake up · snap out of it · get moving · act now
take a chill pillspring into action
Begin acting immediately
get moving · step on it · hurry up · get a move on · shake a leg
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, chill, chills, chilled