as cool as a cucumber
Meaning
Very calm and composed, especially under pressure or in a stressful situation.
Origin
Recorded from the 18th century. The comparison comes from cucumbers feeling cool to the touch (high water content and cooling effect), making them a metaphor for an unflustered person.
Notes
Complimentary; describes someone staying calm under pressure. Common in speech and writing; typically refers to a person’s demeanor.
Examples
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Even with the clock ticking down, Maya stayed as cool as a cucumber and sank the winning shot.
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When the client started yelling, our manager remained as cool as a cucumber and calmly explained the policy.
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He looked as cool as a cucumber during the interview, even though he admitted later he was nervous.
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The pilot sounded as cool as a cucumber over the intercom while the plane hit turbulence.
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Everyone was panicking, but she was as cool as a cucumber and took charge of the evacuation.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed simile pattern: “as + adjective + as + noun.” Usually “as cool as a cucumber”; occasionally intensified (“as cool as a cucumber throughout”). “Cool” here means calm, not fashionable.
Synonyms
- calm
- composed
- unruffled
- collected
- level-headed
Antonyms
- flustered
- panicked
- rattled
- nervous