keel (redirected from -keeled)

on an even keel

calm and not likely to change suddenly. My main priority is to keep my life on an even keel for the sake of my two boys.

See also: even

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keel over

1. to fall down suddenly because of illness or weakness. Working outside in this heat, she was afraid someone would keel over.

2. to die suddenly. The old man simply keeled over on the sidewalk from a heart attack, I suppose.

Etymology: based on the idea of a boat that keels over (= turns over) with its keel (= bottom) up

See also: over