Phelps wrote, "The expression 'right as rain' must have been invented by an Englishman." Lots of others have followed in the centuries since. Lily has sprained her ankle, but after a few weeks of rest she should be as right as rain. Technical issues mean that we cannot currently remove or amend this answer without deleting the entire contents of this page, and so instead we are posting this note underneath to credit Mr Quinion with the authorship of the answer above, and to provide a link to the original version at http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-rig1.htm. We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! The allusion in this simile is unclear, but it originated in Britain, where rainy weather is a normal fact of life, and indeed W.L. It makes no more sense than the variants it has usurped and is clearly just a play on words (though perhaps there's a lurking idea that rain often comes straight down, in a right line, to use the old sense). An early example, quoted as a proverb as long ago as 1546, is right as a line. Right as my leg is also from the seventeenth century is in Sir Thomas Urquhart's translation of Gargantua and Pantagruel, by Rabelais, published in 1664: "Some were young, quaint, clever, neat, pretty, juicy, tight, brisk, buxom, proper, kind-hearted, and as right as my leg, to any man's thinking". The allusion in this simile is unclear, but it originated in Britain, where rainy weather is a normal fact of life, and indeed W.L. relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants. It was first recorded in 1894. The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary carried on abroad, or with other countries. We put a bandage on his knee, gave him a biscuit and a cup of tea and he was right as rain. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/right+as+rain. The project would be right as rain if we could just get the servers to stay online. But the alliteration was undoubtedly why it was created and has helped its survival. Right as rain is a latecomer to this illustrious collection of curious similes. “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time. This simile does not make a great deal of sense, even in rainy Great Britain, where it originated, but it has survived. In that, right might have had a literal sense of straightness, something desirable in a line, but it also clearly has a figurative sense of being correct or acceptable. It may have first appeared at the very end of the nineteenth century, but the first example I can find is from Max Beerbohm's book Yet Again of 1909: "He looked, as himself would undoubtedly have said, 'fit as a fiddle'"; or "right as rain". There's right as a trivet from the nineteenth century, a trivet being a stand for a pot or kettle placed over an open fire; this may be found in Charles Dickens's Pickwick Papers of 1837: "I hope you are well, sir." The allusion in this simile is unclear, but it originated in Britain, where rainy weather is a normal fact of life, and indeed W… There's right as a gun, which appeared in one of John Fletcher's plays, Prophetess, in 1622. Julian McCarthy, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK, Rory Foster, Office of the readers' editor, the Guardian, Brewer's Phrase and Fable again, I'm afraid, but the phrase was "As NICE as Ninepence" which in turn came from "as nice as Nine pins". See also: rain, right The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Perhaps surprisingly, there have been expressions starting right as ... since medieval times, always in the sense of something being satisfactory, safe, secure or comfortable. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, in fear and trembling of (someone or something), the webmaster's page for free fun content, right anterior lateral hepatic segment VI, Right Anterior Oblique and Left Anterior Oblique, right atrial branch of right coronary artery. Since then it has almost completely taken over from the others. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? Michael Quinion, editor of the World Wide Words website, has been in touch with the Guardian to point out that the answer above, attributed to Tristan Childs, Maida Vale, England, is actually a piece that he wrote in 2000 for his site. We Asked, You Answered. All we need to do is tidy the house up; then it will be right as rain. About the same time, or a little later, people were saying that things were as right as ninepence, as right as a book, as right as nails, or as right as the bank. : : : RIGHT AS RAIN - "Definitely correct; just the way it should be. “Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What Do These Terms Mean? Phelps wrote, “The expression 'right as rain' must have been invented by an Englishman.” It was first recorded in 1894. “Panic Attack” vs. “Anxiety Attack”: Which One Have You Had? I have a broken foot, but once I get my cast off, the doctor says I'll be as right as rain. He was very ill, but he's right as rain now, If she'd only worked on it another week everything would have been as right as rain. In good order or good health, satisfactory, as in He was very ill, but he's right as rain now, or If she'd only worked on it another week everything would have been as right as rain. "Right as a trivet, sir,"; replied Bob Sawyer. characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction. Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference? This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. In good order or good health, satisfactory, as in He was very ill, but he's right as rain now, or If she'd only worked on it another week everything would have been as right as rain. 10 Types Of Nouns Used In The English Language. What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”? In good health or order; feeling or working just as someone or something should. Describe 2020 In Just One Word? See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right! There's an even older example, from the Romance of the Rose of 1400: "right as an adamant", where an adamant was a lodestone or magnet. It could just as well be 'right as clouds' or any number of other things, but 'rain' it is, doubtless because of the allure of alliteration. Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. In good order or good health, satisfactory, as in, In good shape, correct. As right as ninepence has had a good run, too, but that has vanished even in Britain since we decimalised the coinage and since ninepence stopped being worth very much. Get lots of fresh air and rest and you’ll soon be feeling as right as rain again. Right as rain is a latecomer to this illustrious collection of curious similes.

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