refroidir

cool down

verb ruh-frwah-DEER Rare

Also means

dampen (enthusiasm)

Usage Note

Refroidir describes both literal cooling (a soup refroidit, an engine refroidit) and figurative cooling of feelings — refroidir l'enthousiasme means to dampen enthusiasm. The reflexive se refroidir means to catch a chill. Refroidi as a past participle can also be slang for 'dead' (killed) in familiar registers.

Examples

"Laisse le café refroidir avant de le boire."

Natural Translation

Let the coffee cool down before drinking it.

Literal Translation

Let the coffee cool down before to drink it.

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