General
right smart
What does right smart mean?
A good deal of something; "a right smart piece" means a fair distance.
"It's a right smart piece down that dirt road."
Origin
From older British English where "right" meant "very" and "smart" meant "considerable"; preserved as a fixed quantity phrase in Appalachia.
Frequently asked questions
What does right smart mean?
It means a considerable amount or distance, as in "a right smart of money" or "a right smart piece down the road."
Where does right smart come from?
It preserves older British senses where "right" meant "very" and "smart" meant "considerable," kept alive in Appalachian speech.
Does right smart have anything to do with intelligence?
No, in this phrase "smart" refers to quantity or extent, not cleverness.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
