cooler

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · American English

n. a slang word for a prison or a jail cell.

n. a slang term for a place of incarceration or a solitary confinement cell.

“The thief spent a few nights in the cooler after he was caught.”

“In many classic crime films, the protagonist is threatened with a long stretch in the cooler if they refuse to cooperate with the authorities.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a cold drink made by mixing alcohol with fruit juice or soda.

n. a chilled beverage consisting of wine or spirits blended with fruit juice or carbonated mixers.

“She ordered a peach wine cooler to enjoy on the patio.”

“The bar offers a variety of fruit-based coolers that are particularly popular during the humid summer months.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · Technical

n. a situation in poker where you lose a lot of money despite having a very strong hand.

n. a hand in which a player holds a very strong set of cards but loses to an even stronger hand, typically resulting in a significant loss of chips.

“Losing with three of a kind against a straight was a total cooler.”

“The professional player maintained his composure despite the cooler, recognizing that his statistical advantage had simply been overcome by a rare card combination.”