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right as rain
/ˌraɪt əz ˈreɪn/◆idiom
perfectly healthy or fine
After a good night's sleep, I felt right as rain.
The phrase describes feeling completely well or in excellent condition.
informal
in excellent health or condition
She was sick yesterday, but today she's right as rain.
She recovered completely and is now in perfect health.
The car wasn’t working yesterday, but now it’s right as rain.
The car is now functioning perfectly.
Often used to describe recovery from illness or repair of something.
Collocations
feel right as rainto feel perfectly healthybe right as rainto be in perfect condition
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use 'right as rain' to emphasize full recovery or restoration, especially after a problem. It works for both people and objects, but avoid formal settings.
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Interpretation
The phrase is idiomatic—do not interpret it word-for-word. It does not refer to actual rain or literal health checks.
Word Origin
The phrase dates back to the early 19th century. 'Right' here means 'completely' or 'absolutely,' while 'as rain' refers to the idea of something being naturally and perfectly healthy, like rain nourishing plants. The imagery likely stems from the association of rain with vitality and renewal.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in informal contexts to describe health or the condition of objects. It is not used in formal or technical writing.
Word Breakdown
right
completely or perfectly
adverbas rain
in a state of natural health or excellence
simileEnglish Dictionary