keep calm

Use it as a command or a description. You can tell yourself to keep calm. You can also tell a friend who is panicking. It usually follows words like need to or must. For example: "You need to keep calm during the test." It functions as a verb phrase. It is simple, short, and very effective.

Use it when the pressure is high. It works at a busy restaurant when orders are wrong. Use it in a meeting when a deadline is missed. It is perfect for texting a friend who is overthinking a date. If there is a minor emergency, this is your go-to phrase. It sounds steady and reassuring. It shows you are in control of the situation.

Do not use it during a real, life-threatening disaster. If a building is on fire, do not just keep calm—run! Also, avoid saying it to someone who is truly grieving or very angry. It can sound dismissive or cold. Sometimes, people just need to feel their feelings. Telling an angry person to keep calm might actually make them explode. Use it for stress, not for deep emotional trauma.

This phrase is deeply British. It comes from the 1939 poster "Keep Calm and Carry On." The UK government made it to boost morale during World War II. It was forgotten for decades. Then, a bookshop owner found a copy in 2000. It became a global sensation. Now, you see it on mugs, t-shirts, and memes everywhere. It represents the "stiff upper lip" British attitude.

• Stay calm: Almost identical, but feels more continuous.
• Keep your cool: A bit more informal and stylish.
• Keep your head: Means staying rational during a crisis.
• Don't lose it: The negative version of the same idea.
• Chill out: Very informal and sometimes a bit rude.