cool beans

English - English

Definition of cool beans in English English dictionary

okay; a humorous and light-hearted nonsense phrase indicating approval or mild excitement

Turkish pronunciation

kul binz

Pronunciation

/ˈko͞ol ˈbēnz/ /ˈkuːl ˈbiːnz/

Etymology

[ 'kül ] (adjective.) before 12th century. reference needed The phrase ‘cool beans’ dates back to the early 1700's when French fur trappers roamed the American Midwest. After a successful outing they would say, "course bien" (pronounced 'cur'), meaning good run. When English-speaking pioneers started moving westward, they heard the trappers use course bien in a positive way after a hard day’s work, but mistook it as the phrase "cool beans." It resurfaced in America during the late 1960s. Hits of acid and ludes were dubbed "cool beans" for their bean-like shape. They were also referred to as "whacky beans" or just "beans." On top of that, there is the homophone connection between the food "chili beans" and "chilly beans", literally meaning "cold beans".