put right

1. on or related to the side of the body which in most people has the more skilful hand, or to the side of a person or thing which is toward the east when that person or thing is facing north (opposite to left). When I'm writing, I hold my pen in my right hand.

2. correct. Put that book back in the right place; Is that the right answer to the question?

3. morally correct; good. It's not right to let thieves keep what they have stolen.

4. suitable; appropriate. He's not the right man for this job; When would be the right time to ask him?

noun

1. something a person is, or ought to be, allowed to have, do etc. Everyone has the right to a fair trial; You must fight for your rights; You have no right to say that.

2. that which is correct or good. Who's in the right in this argument?

3. the right side, part or direction. Turn to the right; Take the second road on the right.

4. in politics, the people, group, party or parties holding the more traditional beliefs etc.

adverb

1. exactly. He was standing right here.

2. immediately. I'll go right after lunch; I'll come right down.

3. close. He was standing right beside me.

4. completely; all the way. The bullet went right through his arm.

5. to the right. Turn right.

6. correctly. Have I done that right?; I don't think this sum is going to turn out right.

verb

1. to bring back to the correct, usually upright, position. The boat tipped over, but righted itself again.

2. to put an end to and make up for something wrong that has been done. He's like a medieval knight, going about the country looking for wrongs to right.

interjection

I understand; I'll do what you say etc. `I want you to type some letters for me.' `Right, I'll do them now.'

righteous (ˈraitʃəs) adjective

1. (of anger etc) justifiable. righteous indignation.

2. living a good moral life. a righteous man.

3. good; morally right. a righteous action.

ˈrighteously adverb

ˈrighteousness noun

ˈrightful adjective

proper; correct; that ought to be or has a right to be something. He is the rightful king of this country.

ˈrightfully adverb

It rightfully belongs to me, although she has it at the moment.

ˈrightly adverb

1. justly, justifiably; it is right, good or just that (something is the case). He was punished for his stupidity and rightly: Rightly or wrongly she refused to speak to him.

2. correctly; accurately. They rightly assumed that he would refuse to help.

ˈrightness noun

the state of being good or morally correct. They believe in the rightness of their cause.

righto, right-oh (raitˈou) interjection

right. Right-oh! I'll come now.

rights noun plural

the legal right given in return for a sum of money to produce eg a film from a book. He has sold the film rights of his new book to an American company.

right angle

an angle of ninety degrees, like any of the four angles in a square.

ˈright-angled adjective

having a right angle. a right-angled triangle.

ˈright-hand adjective

1. at the right; to the right of something else. the top right-hand drawer of my desk.

2. towards the right. a right-hand bend in the road.

ˌright-ˈhanded adjective

(of people) using the right hand more easily than the left, eg for writing. The majority of people are right-handed.

right wing

the members of a political party who hold more traditional opinions. He's on the right wing of the Labour Party.

adjective

(ˌright-ˈwing) (having opinions which are) of this sort.

ˌright-ˈwinger noun

by right(s)

rightfully. By rights, I ought to be in charge of this department.

get/keep on the right side of

to make (someone) feel, or continue to feel, friendly or kind towards oneself. If you want a pay rise, you'd better get on the right side of the boss.

get right

to understand, do, say etc (something) correctly. Did I get the answer right?

go right

to happen as expected, wanted or intended; to be successful or without problems. Nothing ever goes right for him.

not in one's right mind, not (quite) right in the head

(slightly) mad. He can't be in his right mind – making incredible suggestions like that!

put right

1. to repair; to remove faults etc in (something). There is something wrong with this kettle – can you put it right?

2. to put an end to or change (something that is wrong). You've made a mistake in that sum – you'd better put it right.

3. to put (a watch, clock etc) to the correct time.

4. to correct (someone who has made a mistake). I thought the meeting was at 2.30, but he put me right.

5. to make healthy again. That medicine will soon put you right.

put/set to rights

to put back into the correct order, state etc. The room was in a dreadful mess, and it took us the whole day to set it to rights.

right away

immediately; at once.

right-hand man

a person's most trusted and useful assistant.

right now

immediately.

right of way

1. the right of the public to use a path that goes across private property.

2. (ˌright-of-ˈway – plural ˈrights-of-ˈway) a road or path over private land, along which the public have a right to walk.

3. the right of one car etc to move first eg when crossing a cross-roads, or going round a roundabout. It was your fault that our cars crashed – I had right of way.

serve right

to be the punishment deserved by. If you fall and hurt yourself, it'll serve you right for climbing up there when I told you not to.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

When everything had been put right, and the carriage had been brought back to the road, Levin had the lunch served.

View in context

Marilla felt that, in some strange way, his marriage with Anne would put right that old mistake.

View in context

He only know'd that it wasn't put right by them what undertook that line of business, and that it didn't come right of itself.

View in context

It's enough to be robbed while you're snoring because you're too comfortable, without being put right with your four seven ones.

View in context

If you should meet with anybody that don't know it by that name (which hardly anybody does), when you've got nigh upon about a odd mile, or say and a quarter if you like, up Maiden Lane, Battle Bridge, ask for Harmony Jail, and you'll be put right. I shall expect you, Wegg,' said Mr Boffin, clapping him on the shoulder with the greatest enthusiasm, 'most joyfully.

View in context

- I want to be put right, if I am wrong - isn't it, really?'

View in context

Ye higher men, think ye that I am here to put right what ye have put wrong?

View in context

No doubt there was some quarrel, some whimsey on the part of William, who, though a good fellow, was a little exacting sometimes--something that a woman could put right. But though he inclined to take the easiest view of his responsibilities, he cared too much for this daughter to let things be.

View in context

"It's a big year for every international side going into a World Cup and we have a lot of things we want to just put right for ourselves, get across on the park for the fans, for us.

Seymour keen to look to the future

Emery has to be given a few more transfer windows to put right a squad badly affected by woeful prioritising.

ANY criticism of Arsenal's poor []

The place is supposed to be crumbling in parts, so every year that passes unchecked it becomes more dangerous and more expensive to put right. So get a move on!

Westminster about to fall..

Fitch assumes all bond holders will execute the "no call put right" of the notes on the first-call date due to the termination of guarantee.