Street
cooler
What does cooler mean?
A solitary confinement or punishment cell.
"A week in the cooler for fighting."
Origin
From the idea of 'cooling off' in isolation; American in origin but used in UK too.
Frequently asked questions
What is 'the cooler' in prison?
It is slang for solitary confinement or the punishment cell, where a prisoner is isolated as a disciplinary measure.
Where does the term 'cooler' come from?
It plays on the idea of 'cooling off' in isolation. It began as American slang but is understood and used in UK prisons too.
How is 'the cooler' used in a sentence?
You would say someone got 'a week in the cooler' for a rule breach like fighting, meaning they were placed in isolation as punishment.
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