even keel

The phrase "even keel" originates from nautical terminology and is commonly used to describe balance and stability in various contexts.

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Definition

C1Nautical

(technical)A condition where a watercraft is floating or moving smoothly without tilting.

Example

  • The captain ensured the ship remained on an even keel throughout the voyage.

B2General

(idiomatic)A state of being balanced and stable, often referring to emotions, situations, or operations.

Example

  • She managed to keep her emotions on an even keel despite the stress.
  • The company's operations have been running on an even keel since the new management took over.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "even keel":

steady oneven stevenlevel outsteady as a rockeven upoff keelsteady hand on the tilleron the leveldead leveleven outdead calmlevel offlow keystraight batchilled outstraight arrowon keelplane sailing