If I say "relax" instead of "calm down", would it change the nuance of the context?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
In this context, "relax" and "calm down" have very similar meanings. They can both be used in situations when someone is overly stimulated emotionally. Ex: Shhh, it's okay. Let's take a deep breath and relax. Ex: My dog gets nervous around strangers, so I pet her to calm her down.