keep poise

[kip pɔɪz]
verb phrase
manter a compostura
1. to remain calm, composed, and balanced in a difficult or stressful situation
She managed to keep poise during the challenging presentation despite her nervousness.
Ela conseguiu manter a compostura durante a apresentação desafiadora apesar de seu nervosismo.
2. to maintain physical balance and elegance in movement or posture
The dancer was able to keep poise while performing the complex routine.
A dançarina conseguiu manter o equilíbrio enquanto executava a rotina complexa.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'keep poise' is valued in professional, social, and athletic settings. In Brazil, maintaining compostura is particularly emphasized in business and social hierarchies. In the USA, the phrase reflects cultural values of emotional control and grace under pressure, often associated with leadership and maturity.
NYC Slang
keep your cool / stay cool
Synonyms / Sinônimos
remain calmstay composedmaintain composurekeep one's coolstay balanced
Antonyms / Antônimos
lose composurepaniclose poisebecome flusteredlose balance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
manter a compostura
most common and widely understood translation
Rio de Janeiro
manter a compostura / manter a calma
both expressions are frequently used
São Paulo
manter a compostura / manter o equilíbrio
formal contexts prefer 'manter a compostura'
Portugal
manter o equilíbrio / manter a serenidade
Portuguese variant may emphasize physical balance more

Related Words

composureequilibriumserenitytranquilitygrace

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep your head above water
keep your wits about you
stay the course
keep a stiff upper lip
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →