be set to rights

To be restored to or arranged in the proper, natural, or original state or condition. I never worry about keeping my hotel room tidy, because it'll be set to rights after I leave anyway. That new assistant is completely useless. This entire contract is a sloppy mess, and now it has to be set to rights before Monday. Don't worry, those jumbled files have all ben put to rights—I came in early and did it myself.

set (something) to rights

To restore something to its proper, natural, or original state or condition. I never worry about keeping my hotel room tidy, because I know they'll send someone to set it to rights once I leave. I'm going to have to spend the entire weekend setting this contract to rights after the intern mangled it.

set to rights

Also, put to rights. Place in proper condition or order. For example, The caterer promised to set the room to rights before he left, or Don't worry, the lawyer will put the will to rights. These terms date from the second half of the 1600s, although to rights in the sense of "in proper order" was first recorded about 1330. Also see set right.

put/set something to ˈrights

correct a situation, especially one which is unfair; put things in their right places or right order: As a young politician, she wanted to set the world to rights. ♢ It took me ages to put things to rights after the workmen had left.

See also: put, right, set, something, to

See also: