cooler
gb/kˈulɚ/ us/kˈulɚ/
A2
English
~ 8000
hűtőtáska, hűtőláda, hűvösebb, higgadtabb, nyugodtabb, menőbb, hűtőberendezés, hűtő, boralapú gyümölcsös koktél, boros koktél, hűvös, sitt, balszerencsét hozó ember vagy dolog, hangulatgyilkos
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] puts [food/drinks] in a cooler
We packed the cooler with sandwiches and cold drinks for the beach.
Szendvicseket és hideg italokat pakoltunk a hűtőtáskába a strandra.
Can you grab a soda from the cooler on the back porch?
Hoznál egy üdítőt a hátsó teraszon lévő hűtőtáskából?
They filled the cooler with ice before loading it into the truck.
The campsite had no fridge, so we kept everything in a large cooler.
After the game, the players reached into the team cooler for water.
Learner examples
He puts the bottles in the cooler with ice.
Az üvegeket jéggel együtt a hűtőtáskába teszi.
We take a cooler when we go to the lake.
Hűtőtáskát viszünk magunkkal, amikor a tóhoz megyünk.
The meat stays fresh in the cooler.
There is a small cooler in the car.
Please close the cooler so the ice does not melt.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse a 'cooler' with a 'fridge' or 'refrigerator'. A 'cooler' is usually portable and uses ice, while a fridge is a large electric appliance in a kitchen.
Meaning
Portable box for cold food/drinks
Collocations
pack the cooler
|ice in the cooler
|portable cooler
|styrofoam cooler
|beer cooler
|large cooler
Synonyms
ice chest (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in some regional varieties of English.)
Antonyms
heater (Opposite because it warms things instead of keeping them cold.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|leisure
|food_drink
Definition
A box or container with thick walls that people use with ice to keep food and drinks cold when they are outside or traveling.
A portable insulated box or container used to keep food and drinks cold, usually with ice, especially for travel, picnics, or outdoor events.
A2
2
hűvösebb
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is cooler than [something]
It’s much cooler today than it was yesterday.
Ma sokkal hűvösebb van, mint tegnap.
Let’s sit in the shade where it’s cooler.
Üljünk az árnyékba, ahol hűvösebb van.
The basement is usually cooler than the rest of the house.
Evenings are getting cooler as autumn approaches.
Open the window to let some cooler air in.
Learner examples
The room is cooler with the window open.
A szoba hűvösebb, ha nyitva van az ablak.
It is cooler in the morning than at noon.
Reggel hűvösebb van, mint délben.
This side of the street is cooler because of the trees.
My tea is cooler now, so I can drink it.
The weather is cooler in October.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'more cool' instead of 'cooler'. For one-syllable adjectives like 'cool', the correct comparative form is 'cooler', not 'more cool', in normal speech.
Meaning
Having a lower temperature
Collocations
cooler weather
|cooler temperatures
|cooler air
|cooler climate
|cooler evening
|cooler room
Synonyms
colder (Often feels stronger than 'cooler', suggesting a more uncomfortable or very low temperature.)
Antonyms
warmer (Describes a higher, more comfortable temperature as the opposite of 'cooler'.)
Themes
weather
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Less warm than something else, or less warm than before.
Having a lower temperature than before or than another place, thing, or time being compared.
B1
3
higgadtabb
B2
nyugodtabb
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] keeps a cooler head than [someone]
She stayed cooler than everyone else during the emergency.
A vészhelyzetben mindenki másnál higgadtabb maradt.
We need someone with a cooler head to negotiate this deal.
Olyasvalakire van szükségünk, aki higgadtabb fejjel tud tárgyalni erről a megállapodásról.
His second email was much cooler in tone than the first one.
After a short walk, he came back cooler and ready to talk.
Cooler minds eventually accepted the compromise.
Learner examples
After he waits a few minutes, he feels cooler and less angry.
Miután vár néhány percet, nyugodtabbnak érzi magát, és kevésbé dühös.
We need a cooler person to lead the meeting.
Higgadtabb emberre van szükségünk, hogy vezesse a megbeszélést.
Her answer was cooler and more polite this time.
He is cooler than his brother when there is a problem.
When you are cooler, you can think better.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with physical temperature. In emotional contexts, 'cooler' describes a more calm, controlled attitude, not lower heat.
Meaning
More calm and controlled
Collocations
cooler head
|cooler minds
|cooler judgment
|cooler response
|cooler approach
Synonyms
calmer (Very close in meaning; 'calmer' does not carry the slight nuance of deliberate self-control that 'cooler' often has.)
Antonyms
hotter-headed (Describes someone more easily angered or excited, the opposite of a 'cooler' person in this context.)
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
More relaxed and not so angry or excited as another person or as before.
More calm, controlled, and not easily upset or excited, especially in a difficult situation, compared with someone or something else.
B1
INFORMAL
4
menőbb
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is cooler than [something] (socially)
That jacket is cooler than anything I own.
Az a dzseki menőbb, mint bármi, amim van.
Streaming the show is much cooler than watching it on regular TV.
Sokkal menőbb streamelni a sorozatot, mint hagyományos tévén nézni.
She always picks the cooler restaurants for us to try.
The new logo looks a lot cooler than the old one.
He thinks playing in a band is cooler than working in an office.
Learner examples
This phone is cooler than my old phone.
Ez a telefon menőbb, mint a régi telefonom.
I think your shoes are cooler than mine.
Szerintem a te cipőd menőbb, mint az enyém.
The city is cooler than our small town for young people.
That movie is cooler than the last one we saw.
His idea is cooler and more fun.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this social meaning with the temperature meaning. In sentences about style, popularity, or image, 'cooler' usually means 'more fashionable or impressive', not 'less warm'.
Meaning
More fashionable or impressive
Collocations
cooler outfit
|cooler job
|cooler option
|cooler idea
|cooler brand
Synonyms
trendier (Very similar but focuses more on fashion and trends, while 'cooler' can also include attitude or general appeal.)
Antonyms
lamer (Informal opposite, suggesting something is less impressive or less socially attractive.)
Themes
pop culture
|social
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Seen as more stylish, interesting, or special than something else.
Considered more fashionable, impressive, or socially attractive than something or someone else.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
5
hűtő
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is cooled by a cooler
The air cooler wasn’t strong enough for the large office.
A léghűtő nem volt elég erős a nagy irodához.
Make sure the CPU cooler is installed correctly before turning the computer on.
A számítógép bekapcsolása előtt győződj meg róla, hogy a processzorhűtő megfelelően van beszerelve.
The engine’s oil cooler keeps the temperature within a safe range.
In dry climates, many homes use an evaporative cooler instead of traditional air conditioning.
The technician replaced the faulty cooler in the refrigeration system.
Learner examples
The computer has a cooler to keep it from getting too hot.
A számítógépben van egy hűtő, hogy ne melegedjen túl.
They use a big cooler to make the air cold in the factory.
A gyárban egy nagy hűtőberendezéssel hűtik a levegőt.
The car needs a new oil cooler.
This room has a small air cooler in the window.
A cooler moves heat away from the machine.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the picnic-type 'cooler'. In technical or mechanical contexts, 'cooler' usually means a device or component in a system, not a box for food and drinks.
Meaning
Device for cooling air or liquid
Collocations
air cooler
|oil cooler
|evaporative cooler
|CPU cooler
|fan and cooler
Synonyms
chiller (Often used in industrial or large-scale systems; 'cooler' is broader and can be more general.)
Antonyms
heater (Opposite because it adds heat instead of removing it.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|home
|science
Definition
A machine or part of a machine that makes air or liquid colder.
A device, often mechanical, that removes heat from air, liquid, or another substance to lower its temperature.
NOUN
B1
6
Usage pattern:
[someone] orders a [flavor] cooler
She ordered a peach wine cooler instead of a beer.
Sör helyett egy barackos boros koktélt rendelt.
These bottled coolers are popular at summer parties.
Ezek a palackozott boralapú koktélok népszerűek a nyári bulikon.
He prefers a light cooler to stronger cocktails.
The bar has several fruit coolers on the menu.
They served a refreshing lemon cooler with the appetizers.
Learner examples
She drinks a wine cooler at the party.
Egy boros koktélt iszik a bulin.
Coolers are cold and sweet alcoholic drinks.
A boralapú gyümölcsös koktélok hideg, édes alkoholos italok.
He likes a cooler more than a strong drink.
They put many coolers in the fridge before the barbecue.
I ordered a fruit cooler with my meal.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'cooler' here just means the drink is cold. In bar or drink menus, 'a cooler' often refers to a specific type of mixed alcoholic drink, usually sweet and light.
Meaning
Sweet mixed alcoholic drink
Collocations
wine cooler
|fruit cooler
|summer cooler
|vodka cooler
|peach cooler
Synonyms
alcopop (BrE informal term; often for bottled sweet alcoholic drinks aimed at young adults.)
Antonyms
soft drink (Opposite because it is a non-alcoholic sweet drink.)
Themes
food
|leisure
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
A cold drink with alcohol, fruit juice, and sometimes soda, that tastes sweet.
A sweet alcoholic drink, often carbonated, made by mixing wine or spirits with fruit juice or soda and served cold.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
7
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in the cooler
In the movie, the hero spends a week in the cooler for a crime he didn’t commit.
A filmben a hős egy hetet tölt a hűvösön egy olyan bűnért, amelyet nem követett el.
They threatened to throw him in the cooler if he didn’t calm down.
Megfenyegették, hogy bevágják a hűvösre, ha nem nyugszik le.
After the fight, he ended up in the cooler overnight.
The gang leader has been in the cooler for years.
He joked that if he kept speeding, he’d land in the cooler.
Learner examples
The police put him in the cooler for one night.
A rendőrök egy éjszakára hűvösre tették.
In this story, the main man is in the cooler.
Ebben a történetben a főszereplő a hűvösön ül.
If you break the law, you can go to the cooler.
He does not want to go back to the cooler.
They say he spent five years in the cooler.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand 'in the cooler' as being in a cold place or near a drink cooler. In slang, 'the cooler' usually means 'prison' or 'jail', especially in older movies or crime stories.
Meaning
Slang term for prison or jail
Collocations
in the cooler
|thrown in the cooler
|put him in the cooler
|a night in the cooler
Synonyms
the slammer (Informal slang for prison or jail; similar register to 'the cooler'.)
Antonyms
freedom (Opposite in that it describes being free, not locked up.)
Themes
crime
|law
|daily_life
Definition
An informal, slang word for prison or a jail cell.
A slang term for prison, jail, or a jail cell, especially used in the expression 'the cooler'.
NOUN
C2
SLANG
8
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a real cooler
In the film, the casino hires a cooler to stop big winners at the tables.
A filmben a kaszinó felbérel egy balszerencsét hozó embert, hogy megállítsa az asztaloknál nagyban nyerő játékosokat.
Don’t invite him, he’s a total cooler at parties.
Ne hívd meg, teljesen hangulatgyilkos a bulikon.
After she sat down at the poker table, they blamed her as the cooler when everyone started losing.
The new manager turned out to be a cooler for sales.
Superstitious players thought the dealer was a cooler and asked for a change.
Learner examples
They say he is a cooler because they lose when he comes.
Azt mondják, balszerencsét hoz, mert veszítenek, amikor megjelenik.
She feels like a cooler when the party gets quiet after she arrives.
Úgy érzi, mintha hangulatgyilkos lenne, amikor elcsendesedik a buli az érkezése után.
Some gamblers think the new man is a cooler.
In this story, the casino pays a cooler to stop winners.
He does not want to be a cooler for his team.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'cooler' here means someone who is relaxed or fashionable. In gambling or mood contexts, it can mean someone who brings bad luck or stops the fun.
Meaning
Person who brings bad luck or kills excitement
Collocations
a real cooler
|casino cooler
|party cooler
|turn out to be a cooler
Synonyms
jinx (Informal word for a person or thing that brings bad luck; 'cooler' can focus more on results at the table or the mood.)
Antonyms
good-luck charm (Opposite because it is believed to bring good luck, not bad luck.)
Themes
gambling
|emotions
|daily_life
Definition
A person or thing that makes other people lose or feel less happy or excited.
A person or thing believed to bring bad luck, reduce other people’s success, or spoil the mood, especially in gambling or social situations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cooler
IPA
GB/kˈulɚ/
US/kˈulɚ/
Syllables & stress
cool - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cool)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cooler
- Plural: coolers
Word family
Expressions
air cooler
1/ˈɛɹ kˈulɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Device that cools air
A machine or unit that makes the air colder in a room or inside a machine.
Examples
- We installed an air cooler in the workshop to fight the summer heat.
- An air cooler is cheaper than a full air-conditioning system.
- The server room uses a special air cooler to protect the equipment.
beer cooler
1/bˈɪɹ kˈulɚ/
fixed phrase
Container or fridge for cold beer
A box, container, or special fridge where beer is kept cold.
Examples
- He grabbed a bottle from the beer cooler at the store.
- They filled a big beer cooler with ice for the party.
- The bar installed a new beer cooler behind the counter.
cooler heads prevail
1/kˈulɚ hˈɛdz pɹɪvˈeɪl/
idiom
Calm people win in the end
Used to say that people who stay calm and do not get too angry will make the final decision or will be right in the end.
Examples
- Let’s wait until cooler heads prevail before we decide.
- In the end, cooler heads prevailed and the strike was avoided.
- They were shouting at first, but cooler heads prevailed and they found a compromise.
in the cooler
1/ˈɪn ðə kˈulɚ/
idiom
slang
In prison or in a jail cell
In prison or in a jail cell, used in slang.
Examples
- He spent the night in the cooler after the bar fight.
- They said he’s been in the cooler for three years now.
- One more mistake like that, and you’ll end up in the cooler.
put someone in the cooler
1/pˈʊt sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪn ðə kˈulɚ/
idiom
slang
Send someone to jail
To lock someone in prison or in a jail cell, used in slang.
Examples
- The cops threatened to put him in the cooler if he didn’t calm down.
- They put the troublemakers in the cooler for the rest of the night.
- He was put in the cooler after breaking parole.
swamp cooler
1/swˈɑmp kˈulɚ/
fixed phrase
Evaporative air-cooling device
A kind of air cooler that makes air cold by blowing it through wet material, used in dry places.
Examples
- Many homes in the desert use a swamp cooler instead of air conditioning.
- The swamp cooler works well until the air gets too humid.
- They turned on the swamp cooler to keep the house comfortable.
water cooler
1/wˈɔtɚ kˈulɚ/
fixed phrase
Machine for cold drinking water
A machine in an office or public place that gives cold drinking water.
Examples
- They chatted by the water cooler during their break.
- The office has a new water cooler near the kitchen.
- Please refill the bottles for the water cooler when they are empty.
water-cooler talk
1/wˈɔtɚ kˈulɚ tˈɔk/
idiom
Informal office conversation or gossip
Informal talk between people at work, often about TV, sports, or other non-work things.
Examples
- The show quickly became the main topic of water-cooler talk on Monday mornings.
- There’s a lot of water-cooler talk about the new manager.
- He hates office water-cooler talk and usually eats lunch alone.
wine cooler
1/wˈaɪn kˈulɚ/
fixed phrase
Sweet mixed drink with wine
A cold, sweet alcoholic drink made from wine and juice or soda.
Examples
- She prefers a wine cooler to a strong cocktail.
- The store sells several brands of wine coolers in the refrigerator section.
- He brought a case of wine coolers to the barbecue.