Wiktionary
n. 1 (context nautical English) The situation in which a watercraft is floating or proceeding in a level and smooth manner. 2 (context idiomatic of emotions, etc. English) The state or characteristic of being under control and balanced. 3 (context idiomatic of a business or other activity English) The state or characteristic of being well controlled and running smoothly.
Usage examples of "even keel".
He fed power to the drivers and tried to bring them onto an even keel but the sub was suddenly a live thing, shooting upward toward the dark bottom of Guemes Island.
He ended his long vigil with one more prayer: Almighty God, keep these colonies on an even keel.
Then abruptly, the floor levelled as Buckley brought the craft back on even keel, the door flew open and Scarlatti staggered and fell.
For seconds there was total confusion as Ordlaf and his mates, yelling frenziedly, kicked men out of their way, heaved ropes, seized oars, tried first to boom the ship off the bank on to which she had run, then to prop her at least on an even keel.
She erupted from the water on ah even keel, like an immense cork, before settling back in a great splash that sent a surge toward the surrounding vessels, rocking the smaller yachts as if they were leaves swept from a tree in a fall windstorm.
It settled back on an even keel for a moment, and then began to list to starboard as the water rushed in through two holes as large as barn doors.
As before, the Pequod steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale's head, now, by the counterpoise of both heads, she regained her even keel.
Almost miraculously, with agonizing slowness, she righted in the trough and took the next sea bow-on, plunging through on an even keel.
There she lay, on an even keel, with her bows within a hundred yards of the bluff of hard ground.
Keeping a practiced eye on the polished brass depth gauge, the diving officer waited until reaching periscope depth before leveling U-20 on an even keel.
Now Botany Bay's mainyard emerged from the spume and she came on to an even keel and started to give that long majestic roll to recovery.
His mind came back on an even keel and he spoke into his face mask receiver.