Lingo
[play] it cool
to act calmly in order to hide one's anger, enthusiasm, fear, etc. from others
The idiom "play it cool" has its origin in jazz music culture during the mid-20th century. It refers to the act of maintaining a calm, composed, and nonchalant demeanor, especially in situations that may elicit excitement, nervousness, or anticipation. Over time, this phrase has become more widely used to describe any situation where someone deliberately acts detached or indifferent to project a sense of confidence or to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
1 / 1