What it means
Someone unflappable simply cannot be rattled, staying calm and steady no matter how chaotic or alarming things get. The image is of a bird whose feathers will not flap up in a fluster, hence un-flappable. It is high praise for the surgeon, the pilot or the parent who keeps a level head in a crisis, never panicking, never losing their cool when everyone around them does.
Usage examples
"Nothing fazes her, she is completely unflappable in an emergency."
"Our captain is utterly unflappable, even two goals down he never panics."
"The pilot stayed completely unflappable through the storm, calm voice on the tannoy like he was ordering a coffee."
"You want an unflappable mate in a crisis, someone who just makes tea while everyone else loses the plot."
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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