# I'll be right back **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641 "2005-09-21T02:01:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/1 "2005-09-21T02:01:22Z")
Why is ‘right’ used as it is in the phrase “I’ll be right back”? I can’t think of any other example in which it is used in a similar manner. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/2 "2005-09-21T02:07:51Z")
Do it right away. Come right over. Go right home. In all these phrases, it’s used in the send of “immediately” or “directly”. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/3 "2005-09-21T02:08:07Z")
“Right away”? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/4 "2005-09-21T02:11:45Z")
> [@Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary](#): > > Main Entry:3right > Function:adverb > Date:before 12th century > > 1 : according to right _live right_ > 2 : in the exact location, position, or moment : PRECISELY _right at his fingertips__quit right then and there_ > 3 : in a suitable, proper, or desired manner _knew he wasn’t doing it right_ > **4 : in a direct line, course, or manner : DIRECTLY, STRAIGHT _go right home_** _came right out and said it_ > 5 : according to fact or truth : TRULY _guessed right_ > 6 a : all the way _windows right to the floor_ b : in a complete manner _felt right at home_ > **7 : without delay : IMMEDIATELY _right after lunch_** > 8 : to a great degree : VERY _a right pleasant day_ > 9 : on or to the right _looked left and right_ I think either definition 4 or definition 7 should cover it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/5 "2005-09-21T02:12:00Z")
Of course, by “send” I meant “sense”. Stoopid fingers. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/6 "2005-09-21T13:07:55Z")
I’m not here right now, but when I am I’ll be right here. In a more dialectical usage from the rural South, the guy riding that rabid bull was right crazy (kind of like plumb crazy). ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/7 "2005-09-21T13:19:37Z")
It probably is a more southern thing. “I’m going to the store right quick.” Perhaps it is akin to our use of “fixin’ to” instead of “preparing to”. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-right-back/322641/8 "2005-09-21T13:40:12Z")
Seems like there are plenty of examples right there, right in front of you, right under your nose. Consider these examples right away.