Context #1:
Jane: I heard you and your boyfriend got into an argument after class yesterday.
Cindy: Yeah… he was really upset and he started yelling at me.
Jane: Did you yell back at him?
Cindy: No, I just kept my cool. Later he felt bad and apologized to me. I’m glad I didn’t lose my temper too.
Context #2:
Tom: In California some people are crazy drivers! People cut me off all the time.
Sam: Yeah, me too! One time I got mad and honked my horn at the guy who cut me off. What do you do when people cut you off?
Tom: I keep my cool. I don’t honk my horn or give them a dirty look. I try to remain calm.
Meaning: to keep one’s cool is an American idiom that means to remain calm and to not lose your temper or get angry. This idiom comes from the LSI textbook Speaking Savvy. LSI teachers use this book to teach Level 5 Speaking/Listening. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com
