What it means
A cheery British way to say someone's fully recovered or something's been put back in proper working order. You use it after illness, a hangover, a wobble, or a repair job. It's got that tidy, old-school feel to it, often said with a calm little grin instead of making a big drama out of things.
Usage examples
"After that dodgy stomach bug, I had a cuppa and a kip. Next morning Mum asked how I was and I said, as right as rain."
"A cup of tea and a sit down and she was as right as rain again."
"Do not worry about the bump, the car will be as right as rain after a quick repair."
"Thought I was dying after Friday night, but a bacon sarnie, two naps, and I'm as right as rain now."
"The boiler packed in yesterday, bloke came round this morning, and it's as right as rain again."
Voice comments
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Where it comes from
Recorded in British English since the 19th century, this idiom caught on partly because the rhyme-like ring of right and rain makes it stick. Earlier English also used rain in positive, proper, seasonable ways, so being as right as rain meant you were back where you should be, all sorted and sound.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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