Cool as a Cucumber – Idiom, Meaning & Origin

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

What the heck does cool as a cucumber mean? Are cucumbers easygoing? This idiomatic phrase has been used for years, and we all seem to just accept its meaning when it’s used. But what is the story behind the phrase, and how are we supposed to be using it? I’ll explain the answers to all of that right here in this guide.

What Does Cool as a Cucumber Mean?

httpsgrammarist.comidiomas cool as a cucumber

Okay, let’s define cool as a cucumber in a way that puts it simply. When people say, “I’m cool as a cucumber,” they’re basically letting you know that they’re calm, composed, and unbothered, even if the situation is stressful. I myself am riddled with constant anxiety, so I don’t have a clue what it feels like to be cool as a cucumber.

This easy breezy phrase is often used to talk about people who always seem calm and collected, even when everyone else is in panic mode. These are the same people who’d look at you in a stressful situation and say, “Keep your shirt on!”

When you break it down, the idiomatic phrase suggests that an actual cucumber is a cool and refreshing veggie, which it is, and is often served chilled. I can’t even imagine a warm cucumber. So, being “cool as a cucumber” really just means you’re as refreshing and soothing as the crisp, green vegetable. (Actually, technically, it’s a fruit, but that’s information for another article).

Cool as a Cucumber Origin

Cool As A Cucumber Ngram
Cool as a Cucumber Usage Trend.

I found the origin of the phrase “cool as a cucumber” to be somewhat disputed, depending on what sources are used, but it’s clear that it was first used in the 18th century.

One of the earliest mentions of the phrase was in the British poet John Gay’s poem “New Song on New Similies” in 1732. The line goes, “Cool as a cucumber could see the rest of womankind.” The phrase quickly gained popularity throughout the 1730s and 1740s and has been in use ever since.

How Do You Use the Idiom’ Cool as a Cucumber’ in a Sentence?

  • I can’t believe how he’s behaving after our house burned down; he’s cool as a cucumber.
  • I’m just going to remain cool as a cucumber at the meeting and let you do all the talking.
  • My kid couldn’t be bothered by bullies at all. She’s just as cool as a cucumber.
  • I was a wreck at our wedding, but my husband was cool as a cucumber.

Cool as a Cucumber Synonyms

If the phrase just doesn’t fit the context or audience you’re dealing with, then consider some of these other terms and phrases that basically mean the same thing.

  • Calm as a pond
  • Easy breezy
  • Collected as a cat
  • Calm as a cucumber
  • Cool as a cat
  • Breezy
  • Still as a statue
  • Poised as a swan
  • Chill
  • Serene as a dove

Stay Cool

And that’s it! I hope my quick guide has helped you understand the meaning and origins of the phrase “cool as a cucumber” so you can use it correctly. Play around with the phrase because it fits in so many different contexts and situations!