get right

English

Etymology 1

Verb

get right (third-person singular simple present gets right, present participle getting right, simple past got right, past participle gotten right or got right)

1. (transitive) To do (something) in the appropriate manner; to make (something) correct by coming up with the correct answer or solution.

   After several unsuccessful attempts to repair the clock, he got it right on the fourth try.

   Most pupils in the class are unable to get their long division right without help.

Related terms

• set aright, set right

Etymology 2

Copula + adjective.

Verb

get right (third-person singular simple present gets right, present participle getting right, simple past got right, past participle gotten right or got right)

1. (intransitive, often with with) To become rectified: to straighten oneself out; to straighten out one's life or practices (with respect to some comparator or standard).

   get right with God

   You better get right with the local building code.

   • 2005, Rich Harrison, Usher Raymond, James Brown (lyrics and music), “Get Right”, in Rebirth, performed by Jennifer Lopez:

     So let yourself go and get right with me / I'm about to sign you up, we can get right / Before the night is up, we can get right / We can get right

Synonyms

• straighten up and fly right

See also

• come to Jesus
• get real

Further reading

• “get right”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “get (something) right”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.