coolly

coolly — adverb

1. showing unfriendliness or distance toward someone through your behavior or tone

1.副詞B2
釋義

showing unfriendliness or distance toward someone through your behavior or tone of voice — for example, replying with a short 'yes' or 'no' to make it clear you do not wish to be friendly.

例句

When Inês tried to apologize for the mistake, Walid looked at her coolly and walked away.

look + coolly at someone (verb of reaction)

The manager responded coolly to Daichi's complaint and refused to offer a refund.

respond coolly to [something]

同義詞
  • coldly

    stronger and more emotionally charged — suggests active hostility rather than simple distance

  • icily

    more dramatic and literary — suggests a sharp, cutting coldness in tone

  • distantly

    milder; suggests emotional detachment without outright unfriendliness

反義詞
  • warmly

    shows friendliness, kindness, and genuine interest in the other person

文法句型

[verb] + coolly

coolly + [verb]

be + [past participle] + coolly

用法筆記

Frequently pairs with verbs of communication and social reaction — look, respond, greet, speak to, receive. The coldness can range from mild unfriendliness to pointed rejection.

常見錯誤

❌The weather turned coolly in the evening.
✅The weather turned cool in the evening.
💡Coolly describes human behavior or attitude, not physical temperature.

2. in a calm and controlled way, without showing fear, worry, or excitement even wh

2.副詞B2
釋義

in a calm and controlled way, without showing fear, worry, or excitement even when the situation is difficult or stressful — for example, speaking steadily during an emergency, or answering tough questions without hesitation.

例句

Chidi handled the angry customer coolly, listening carefully before replying.

handle [someone] coolly

When the fire alarm went off, Mrs. Chen coolly led the children to the exit.

coolly + verb of action (under pressure)

同義詞
  • calmly

    more general and neutral — describes any absence of strong emotion, not necessarily in a stressful context

  • composedly

    more formal — emphasizes deliberate, practiced self-control rather than natural calm

  • serenely

    suggests inner peace and tranquility rather than controlled reaction to stress

反義詞
  • nervously

    showing worry, anxiety, or lack of confidence

  • excitedly

    showing strong emotion, typically positive but uncontrolled

文法句型

coolly + [verb]

[verb] + coolly

用法筆記

This sense typically describes behavior in situations that would normally cause fear, anger, or panic. It is weaker than 'calmly' in everyday use — 'coolly' often carries a nuance of deliberate self-control or even slight detachment, whereas 'calmly' is more neutral.

常見錯誤

❌He coolly walked to the store on a sunny morning.
✅He coolly walked through the crowd of angry protesters.
💡Coolly (calm sense) should describe behavior in a genuinely stressful or challenging situation, not ordinary everyday actions.
❌She coolly accepted the award with a big smile.
✅She coolly accepted the criticism without showing any anger.
💡The calm sense of coolly suggests managing negative emotions, not expressing positive ones.