a cool idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cool idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express approval or enthusiasm about a suggestion or concept. Example: "I think we should implement the new marketing strategy; it's a cool idea that could attract more customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What a cool idea.

The Guardian - Games

"It's a cool idea".

The New York Times - Magazine

"This is kind of a cool idea.

The New York Times - Health

Yeah, that's a cool idea.' Things just kind of happened".

The New Yorker

"I just thought it was a cool idea," he said.

The New York Times

I think that's kind of a cool idea.

Yale University

A cool idea Taste nice, do good – that could be Ben and Jerry's motto.

Independent

We had absolutely no concept for what to do — it was just a cool idea.

The New York Times

I think it's a cool idea, but not one I actually want on my sabers.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It was a cool idea because merely filling in the original word didn't look complete.

The New York Times

Bitcasa's limitless storage service is a cool idea, but it needs work.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a cool idea" to express enthusiasm or support for a new concept, plan, or suggestion in informal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a cool idea" in formal or professional writing; opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "an innovative concept" or "a promising strategy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cool idea" primarily functions as a subject complement or predicate nominative, providing a description of a noun. It's used to express approval or enthusiasm about something, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cool idea" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for expressing approval, as confirmed by Ludwig. While generally neutral to informal, it's best reserved for contexts where a casual tone is appropriate. For formal settings, consider alternatives like "an innovative concept". Ludwig's examples highlight the phrase's prevalence in news media and academic discussions, showcasing its versatility in expressing enthusiasm for various concepts and proposals. The abundance of examples supports its status as a very common expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent concept

Replaces "cool" with "excellent", suggesting a more formal and impressive idea.

a brilliant plan

Substitutes "idea" with "plan", implying a more structured and actionable suggestion.

an interesting proposal

Replaces "cool" with "interesting" and "idea" with "proposal", indicating a more thoughtful and potentially complex idea.

a remarkable suggestion

Uses "remarkable" to emphasize the positive and noteworthy aspect of the suggestion.

a fantastic notion

Employs "fantastic" for stronger enthusiasm and "notion" as a more whimsical synonym for idea.

an innovative approach

Replaces "idea" with "approach", focusing on the novelty and originality of the concept.

a novel concept

Emphasizes the newness and originality of the idea.

a clever thought

Highlights the intelligence and ingenuity behind the idea.

a worthwhile endeavor

Shifts the focus to the value and potential benefits of pursuing the idea.

an ingenious design

Replaces "idea" with "design", implying a more structured and technically sound concept.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a cool idea"?

You can use alternatives like "an interesting concept", "a great suggestion", or "an excellent plan" depending on the context.

Is "a cool idea" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a cool idea" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using more professional alternatives like "an innovative approach" or "a promising concept".

How to use "a cool idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a cool idea" to express approval or excitement about a suggestion. For example, "Implementing this new software is "a cool idea" that could streamline our workflow."

What's the difference between "a cool idea" and "a great idea"?

While both express approval, "a cool idea" often implies something trendy, innovative, or exciting. "A great idea" is a more general expression of approval, suggesting something effective or beneficial. You can choose "a great idea" if you don't want to say "a cool idea".