a cool million

USAGE SUMMARY

"a cool million" is a common phrase used in spoken and written English.
It is generally used to express a large, impressive number. For example, "It's a good thing he won the lottery, because the hospital bill was a cool million!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

This removes the squabbling about the "middle class" versus "the truly wealthy" as anyone pulling down a cool million a year simply cannot be classified as "middle class" by anyone (at least not with a straight face).

HuffPost

Worth a cool million.

The New York Times

Raise a cool million -- or billion?

The New York Times

Well, now it's a cool million.

The New York Times

Bruce Dern chasing a cool million through Nebraska.

The Guardian - Film

Denzel Washington had shown the way by donating a cool million dollars.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

A cool hundred grand, no strings attached?

The New York Times

"I was hoping to get it for a cool twenty," he said.

The New Yorker

But they cannot afford yet to relax with a cool one.

The Economist

Grandmother cleaned up a cool five million on the signatures... View Article By Anthony Lane By Rebecca Mead By Andy Borowitz By Jia Tolentino.

The New Yorker

Standing a cool six foot three in boots, Michael David Quattlebaum Jr. is the male counterpart to Mykki Blanco's frenetic feminine fury.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a cool million" to add a touch of informality or emphasis when discussing a large sum of money, especially in contexts where a more casual tone is appropriate.

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the currency (dollars, pounds, etc.) if the context doesn't make it obvious. For example, "a cool million dollars" avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cool million" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an object or complement in a sentence. It quantifies a sum of money, often in financial discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cool million" is a common phrase used to describe a significant sum of money, typically one million dollars or its equivalent in other currencies. Ludwig AI data indicates its grammatical correctness and frequent use, particularly in news and media contexts. While “cool” adds a slightly informal tone, the phrase is generally considered neutral and widely understood. For alternative phrases, consider “a million dollars” for clarity, or “a substantial fortune” for a more general sense of wealth. When using the phrase, be mindful of specifying the currency to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A million dollars

More literal and lacks the idiomatic nuance of "a cool million".

One million bucks

More informal synonym.

A substantial fortune

Refers to wealth in a more general sense, not necessarily a specific amount.

A hefty sum

Indicates a large amount of money without specifying the exact quantity.

A princely amount

Implies a large and impressive sum of money, often with connotations of luxury.

A significant windfall

Focuses on the unexpected nature of receiving a large amount of money.

A large inheritance

Specifies that the money was received through inheritance.

A tidy sum

Implies a respectable and considerable amount of money.

A considerable amount of capital

More formal and business-oriented way of referring to a large sum of money.

A king's ransom

Figurative expression for a very large amount of money, often used in exaggerated contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "a cool million" in a sentence?

You can use "a cool million" to describe a substantial amount of money, such as "The company was sold for "a cool million"."

What's a less informal way to say "a cool million"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "a million dollars" or "a substantial sum of money" instead of ""a cool million"".

Is it always one million dollars when someone says "a cool million"?

While it often refers to one million dollars, the currency should be clear from the context. It could also be one million pounds, euros, or another currency, though this should be specified to avoid confusion.

What's the origin of the phrase "a cool million"?

The origin is uncertain, but the use of "cool" as a modifier to suggest a large and impressive number has been around since the early 20th century. It adds a casual and slightly understated tone to the expression.