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What is the meaning of "a cool hand"?

English Language & Usage Asked on February 23, 2021

I am quoting from the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Reigate Squires by Arthur Conan Doyle:
"’There are some very singular points here,’said Holmes, smiling. ‘Is it not extraordinary that a burglar – and a burglar who had had some previous experience- should deleberately break into a house at a time when he could see from the lights that two of the family were still afoot’. ‘He must have been a cool hand’". I found the following sources:

  1. finedictionary.com which kind of doesn’t fit in the context, and

  2. thesaurus.com which perfectly fits in the context, but I couldn’t find this meaning in any of several online dictionaries.

2 Answers

He's a person who keeps his cool, who is able to stay calm under pressure.

Answered by RedSonja on February 23, 2021

It appears to be a dated, mainly BrE expression:

Cool hand:

a cool, calm, controlled and competent individual:

  • 1840 [UK] R. Barham ‘Black Mousquetaire’ in Ingoldsby Legends II (1866) 210: A fact which has stamp’d him a rather ‘Cool hand’.
  • 1855 [UK] T. Taylor Still Waters Run Deep II ii: I’m a cool hand, I flatter myself, but, by Jove, she nearly threw me off my balance last night.

——-

  • 1936 [UK] N. Marsh Death in Ecstasy 143: He’s a very cool hand is monsieur.
  • 1965 [US] D. Pearce [title] Cool Hand Luke.

(GDoS)

Answered by user 66974 on February 23, 2021

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