right as rain
Meaning
Completely fine, healthy, or back to normal after a problem.
Origin
Recorded from the late 19th century, especially in British English. The exact origin is uncertain, but “right” meant “all right/correct,” and “rain” likely served as a familiar, pleasant-sounding rhyme emphasizing normalcy.
Notes
Casual, reassuring phrase meaning “totally fine now,” often after illness or a minor problem. More common in British English but understood widely.
Examples
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I had a terrible cold last week, but after a day of rest I felt right as rain.
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Don’t worry about the laptop—after the update it’s right as rain.
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She twisted her ankle during practice, but by the next morning she was right as rain.
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Give the engine a few minutes to warm up and it’ll be right as rain.
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I was nervous before the presentation, but once I started speaking I was right as rain.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically used as a predicate complement after linking verbs: “be right as rain,” “feel right as rain.” It’s fairly fixed; rarely pluralized or reworded.
Synonyms
- fine
- all right
- back to normal
- good as new
- fit as a fiddle
Antonyms
- under the weather
- out of sorts