ENGLISH
REFERENCE

even keel

idiom
Meaning

Of an emotion or state of mind, the state or characteristic of being under control and balanced.


Examples
SIMPLE

She keeps an even keel even when things get busy.

CONTEXTUAL

He managed to keep an even keel during the meeting, despite the difficult questions from his boss.

COMPLEX

By maintaining an even keel throughout the crisis, the manager prevented the team from panicking and helped them find a solution.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    keel over

    To collapse in a faint; to black out, to swoon.

Last updated April 17, 2026