Right as Rain – Meaning, Origin & Usage
In the UK, you often hear the phrase “right as rain” when people aren’t talking about the weather, even though UK citizens are not fond of rain…
The phrase is an idiom, and this article will be explaining what it means, how it originated, and how to use the phrase correctly, with examples. We will also cover similar and synonymous phrases to “right as rain”.
Let’s get straight to it!
What does the phrase “right as rain” mean?
The phrase “right as rain” is an idiom meaning that everything is satisfactory. The phrase is most often used to refer to someone’s health but it can also apply to many other things so long as they are in sufficient condition. (Examples of usage will follow soon.)
What are the origins of the phrase “right as rain”?
The expression “right as” something dates back to medieval times, with a string of comparatives, including trivet and ninepence. The phrase “right as rain” emerged in the 19th century and took precedence over all the other forms, possibly because rain is perceived as good for the growth of plants, and also possibly because of its pleasing alliteration.
While the phrase is believed to date back to the 1870s, the earliest written citation of the phrase dates to 1894 when it appeared in In the Midst of Alarms by Robert Barr.
How to use the phrase “right as rain”, with examples
The phrase “right as rain” is most often used to convey a full bill of health, or in other words to express either recovery or restoration. It can refer to both physical and mental health, or it can simply be used to refer to anything which is in good condition. Here are some examples of the phrase in use:
- Now that the symptoms have gone, I’m feeling right as rain.
- He was right as rain yesterday. It just came all of a sudden.
- What you need is a good night’s sleep. You’ll be right as rain in the morning.
- She’s fully recovered now, right as rain and raring to go.
- If we solve the problem in the next few hours it should all be right as rain.
- The restoration worked well, its working perfectly now, right as rain.
Similar and synonymous phrases to “right as rain”
There are many words and phrases that can often be used in place of “right as rain”. Here are some examples:
- Satisfactory
- Good working condition
- All good
- Appropriate
- Fit as a fiddle
- In good health
- Hunky-dory
- Perfectly fine
- Adequate
- Good enough
- Solid
- Sound
- Decent
- Tip-top
- In good nick
- Feeling good
Final word
So, to summarise, the idiom “right as rain” infers that something is at least satisfactory if not better. The phrase is most frequently used to refer to a person’s health, but it can also be used to refer to other things as well, such as the condition of an object, or to describe how well a project is going. The phrase is believed to date back to the 1800s.
