right and left

Idioms

In or from all directions, on every side, as in Questions were coming right and left, or She was giving orders right and left. This idiom, first recorded in 1839, uses the directions right and left to signify all sides.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“They’re just picking people off, right and left,” Matt said.

From Los Angeles Times

She stares at her bookshelves, right and left, and the one on the far wall behind me.

From Literature

“Left, and left…right, and straight, and left again. Right…and left, and three rights.”

From Literature

He turned left, and right, and left: and burst into the very center of the maze.

From Literature

“No roof, green walls, right and left turns…The hedge maze!”

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023