(as) steady as a rock
1. Firmly fixed in position; unmovable. There's no way this table would break underneath me—it's made from solid oak, so it's as steady as a rock! The bouncer of the club stood in the door, steady as a rock, turning away anyone without proper ID. How on earth are we going to move this broken-down car? It's steady as a rock!
2. Completely and thoroughly resolute, dependable, and trustworthy. I have to say, Sarah has been as steady as a rock during this whole ordeal. Whoever is chosen to lead the company will need to be steady as a rock. Who do you think can give the eulogy? We need someone who can be steady as a rock all through a funeral.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*steady as a rock
Cliché very steady and unmovable; very stable. (*Also: as ~.) His hand was steady as a rock as he made each incision. You must remain as steady as a rock when you are arguing with your supervisor.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
steady as a rock
Firm, dependable, as in Betty always knows her part; she's steady as a rock. This simile uses rock in the sense of "something that affords a sure support," a usage dating from the early 1500s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
(as) steady as a ˈrock
extremely steady and calm; that you can rely on: Even though she must have been frightened, her voice was as steady as a rock and she looked him straight in the eyes when she spoke.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
steady as a rock
Unwavering. This simile, which clearly alludes to a very large immobile rock, dates from the mid-1800s. It is used to describe either physical steadfastness or mental, behavioral stability. The former is meant by J. B. Harwood in Lady Flavia (1865): “The hand that held the candle was steady as a rock.” The latter appears in “You can count on John to run the office; he’s steady as a rock.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer