all right */*/*/

I UK / US adjective, adverb mainly spoken

1)

a) satisfactory or fairly pleasant, but not excellent

Manchester's all right, but I'd rather live in London.

My teacher is all right, but she doesn't really listen to me.

b) very good or nice

"What's the new boy like?" "He's all right!"

2) going well, or happening successfully

go all right:

Did the party go all right?

do all right (= be fairly successful):

My brother was unemployed for years but he's doing all right now.

3) used for saying that you will allow someone to do something, or you do not mind if they do it

it is all right to do something:

It's perfectly all right to skip some questions.

it is all right if someone does something:

Is it all right if I open the window?

it is all right with/by someone (= they do not mind):

"Is it all right with you if I bring a friend?" "Yeah, that's all right by me!"

4) not hurt or ill

You look terrible. Are you all right?

The car's a write-off, but he's all right.

5) used for making someone feel less worried or upset

It's all right. I'm here.

Don't cry. Everything's going to be all right.

6) used for admitting that something is true, especially when this is not the most important fact in a situation

He's attractive all right, but he's not that bright.

•

(it's) all right for someone — spoken used for saying that someone is lucky because they do not have the same problems as you

It's all right for you: you've got a car, but I have to carry my own bags home.

(it's) all right for some (people) — British

spoken used for saying that you think someone is very lucky

"Their parents are buying them a house." "All right for some!"

it's/that's all right — used when someone has thanked you or said sorry to you, to show that you do not mind

"Thanks for the lift." "That's all right."

II UK / US interjection

1)

a) used for agreeing with a suggestion or agreeing to do something

"Shall we ask Kate to come too?" "All right."

"Will you ring me when you get there?" "Yes, all right."

b) used for agreeing to do something or agreeing to let someone else do something, although you do not really want to

"Can't we stay a bit longer?" "Oh, all right, but just five minutes."

2) used for checking that someone understands or agrees

This is where you plug the keyboard in, all right?

3)

a) used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said

"We need to leave in ten minutes." "All right, I'll be ready."

b) used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said and you are annoyed with them for repeating it

"Will you please tidy your bedroom?" "All right! I'm going to!"

4)

a) used for getting someone's attention when you want to start talking about or doing something new

All right, class, open your books at page 23.

All right, let's go.

b) used for getting someone's attention when you want to ask what they are doing or what is happening, especially when you are annoyed

All right children, what's going on here?

All right, who's this idiot?

5) used when you are going to admit something

I waited for hours. All right, I'm exaggerating, but it seemed like hours.

6) British used for saying hello to someone

"All right Andy?" "All right."