Community

Your word isn't here yet

Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.

/Sounds like "poh" (as in "port") + "NEHR" (as in "net") + "PAH" (as in "park") + "nyohs" (as in "onion") + "FREE" (as in "free") + "ohs" (as in "oh")/

Meaning

To calm down a tense situation before it escalates further. The phrase comes from the literal use of cold damp cloths to bring down a fever, and in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay it applies to any conflict at work, in the family, or among friends where someone steps in to lower the temperature.

Examples

He was the only one who tried to cool things down when the argument was getting out of hand.

There is no calming anyone down once both sides have fully dug in their heels.

Regional synonyms

An honest worker who grinds every day to earn their bread with effort and dignity in Argentina. Being a laburante is the proud identity of the Argentine working class, the one who wakes up early and never shies away from hard work.