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right and left

Idioms  
  1. 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.

See Examples For:

Those currents have multiple overlapping causes and cannot entirely be described in terms of right and left.

From Salon Apr. 19, 2026

In just six months, he has helped orchestrate the defection of five lawmakers—representing both the right and left of the political spectrum, from different parts of Canada—to his governing Liberal caucus.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 14, 2026

Successive governments of the right and left have positioned the country, which has the world's sixth-fastest internet speeds, according to Speedtest Global Index, as a tech hub.

From Barron's Mar. 12, 2026

John Souttar has been deployed at both right and left centre-back in alternating games.

From BBC Sep. 25, 2025

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

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

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