The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท T

Take a chill pill

Meaning

A sarcastic command to calm down. It implies that the other person is overreacting and needs to relax their intensity.

Sassy, dismissive

Used in a sentence

  • I told my brother to take a chill pill before he started an argument with Dad.
  • You really need to take a chill pill about the deadlines, we are ahead of schedule.
  • Take a chill pill, it is just a game of backyard croquet.

The backstory

This emerged in the 1980s or early 1990s, likely referencing the rise of prescription anxiety medication. It turned medical terminology into a sharp, dismissive slang phrase.

Heard in

Nationwide

Vibe check