adj. and adv. (old colloquial).—Very; just; quite. COLLOQUIALISMS are numerous: RIGHT AS RAIN (AS NINEPENCE, MY LEG, ANYTHING, A FIDDLE, TRIVET, &c.) = absolutely dependable; TO RIGHTS = completely to one’s satisfaction; RIGHT THERE = on the spot; RIGHT GREAT = very much; RIGHT NOW = instanter; RIGHT SO = just so; TO DO ONE RIGHT (or REASON) = (1) to do justice, and (2) to pledge in drinking; RIGHT OUT = to a finish; RIGHT DOWN = downright; RIGHT SMART = extremely clever; RIGHT AWAY (OUT, or STRAIGHT), RIGHT OFF (HERE or OUT) = immediately; TO TURN (or SEND) TO THE RIGHT-ABOUT = to dismiss; RIGHT YOU ARE = a complete acquiescence; ALL RIGHT = certainly, O. K. (GROSE); A BIT OF ALL RIGHT = extremely good; RIGHT ALONG = at these presents; RIGHT UP TO THE HANDLE = excellent; TO DO (or HAVE) ONE TO RIGHTS = to serve one out; TO SET TO RIGHTS = to put in order; RIGHT ON = entirely, straightforward; RIGHT FORTH = straight; BY GOOD RIGHTS = it should be so; RIGHT ROYAL = drunk. See LEG.
c. 1307. Reliquiæ Antiquæ, ii. 19. As RYT AS RAMIS ORN.
1340. Tale of Gamelyn [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 39. Men dress (set) things TO-RIGHTES; this Adverb (few recognise it) is the source of our setting things TO RIGHTS].
1350. William of Palerne [E.E.T.S.], 3066.
| but þe quen er þe day · was diȝt wel TO RIȜTES | |
| hendli in þat hinde-skin · as swiche bestes were. | |
| Ibid., 4268. | |
| sehe swelt for sorwe · & swoned RIT ÞERE. |
1356. MANDEVILLE, Travels, 181. And he hem turnethe alle the Firmament RIGHTE as dothe a Wheel that turneth be his Axille Tree.
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, 3629 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 127. There are new phrases like RIGHT (just) NOW …].
c. 1440. Merlin [E.E.T.S.], ii. 129. Thei asked yef thei hadde grete haste; and thei ansuerde, ‘Ye, RIGHT GRETE.’
c. 1450. The Book of the Knight of La Tour-Landry [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 284. We have RIGHT SO … where we now say just so].
d. 1460. LYDGATE [MS. Harl., 172, 71]. Conveyde by lyne RYGHT AS A RAMMES HORNE.
d. 1529. SKELTON, Why come ye nat to Courte? 86.
| Do ryght and do no wronge, | |
| AS RYGHT AS A RAMMES HORNE. | |
| Ibid., Speke, Parrot, 498. | |
| So myche raggyd RYGHTE OF A RAMMES HORNE. | |
| Ibid., Colyn Cloute, 1200. | |
| They say many matters be born | |
| By the RYGHT OF A RAMBES HORNE. |
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., v. 3. Why now you have DONE ME RIGHT. Ibid. (1609), Tempest, iv. 1. 101. And be a boy RIGHT OUT.
1605. SYLVESTER, Du Bartas, ii.
| I doe adjure thee (O great King) by all | |
| That in the World wee sacred count or call, | |
| TO DOE ME RIGHT. |
1607. W. S., The Puritaine, i. 1. He was my brother, as RIGHT AS RIGHT.
1612–5. JOSEPH HALL, Contemplations [TEGG], v. 176. A prudent circumlocution. which RIGHT-DOWN would not be digested.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bust, ii. 3.
| Hub. ’Tis freely spoken, noble burgomaster: | |
| I ’ll DO YOU RIGHT. |
1624. MASSINGER, The Bondman, ii. 3.
| These glasses contain nothing; DO ME RIGHT, | |
| As e’er you hope for liberty. |
1663. S. TUKE, The Adventures of Five Hours [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), xii. 26]. Your master’s health, sir—I’LL DO YOU REASON, sir.
1703. FARQUHAR, The Inconstant, ii. 2. Bis. Oh, pardon me, sir, you shall DO ME RIGHT, fill it higher.—Now, sir, can you drink a health under your leg?
1726. SWIFT, Gulliver’s Travels, II. viii. They let the hulk drop into the sea, which by reason of many breaches made in the bottom and sides, sunk TO RIGHTS.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 26. God knows if his heart lay in the RIGHT place.
18[?]. D. HUMPHREYS, The Yankee in England. Aunt. … Bring back an answer—quick. Doolittle. In a jiffing, I’ll be back TO RIGHTS.
1832. MACAULAY, Life and Letters, i. 235, 6 July, ‘To Hannah and Margaret Macaulay.’ I guess I must answer him slick RIGHT AWAY.
1842. DICKENS, American Notes, ii. I now saw that “RIGHT AWAY” and “directly” meant the same thing. Ibid. (1854), Hard Times, iv. TURN this girl TO THE RIGHT-ABOUT, and there’s an end of it.
1855. TOM TAYLOR, Still Waters Run Deep, ii. 2. Dun. … How are ye? Hawks. RIGHT AS A TRIVET, my prince of prospectus-mongers.
1856. H. B. STOWE, Dred, I. xvi. She had RIGHT SMART of life in her, and was always for doing something—always RIGHT BUSY ’tending to something or other. Ibid., I. vi. Get the carriage out for me, RIGHT AWAY.
1856. WEBSTER, Correspondence, I. 339. We will shut ourselves up in the office and do the work RIGHT OFF.
1857. OLMSTED, A Journey through Texas, 301. Each man’s ration consisting of a pint of mouldy corn and a ‘RIGHT SMART chunk of bacon.’
1882. J. D. MCCABE, New York by Sunlight and Gaslight, xliii. 570. Take hold of it, my boy, RIGHT NOW.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, At Fault, III. viii. 125. “RIGHT YOU ARE, Dickinson,” replied Mr. Usher, rubbing his hands softly.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, ix. If yer want to get it TO RIGHTS. Ibid., xviii. He is simply ‘right’ from top to toe.
