right as ninepence
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Perfectly all right; in sound condition.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
or NICE AS NINEPENCE (possible corruption of NINE-PINS), quite right, exactly right, comfortable. See NINEPENCE.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “right as ninepence” mean?
Perfectly all right; in sound condition.
Is “right as ninepence” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.