correct

a dead clock is correct twice a day

Even people who are usually wrong can be right sometimes, even if just by accident. From the idea that the stationary hands of a broken clock will still display the correct time at two points during the 24-hour cycle. I know you're sick of Gran's lectures and think she's out of touch, but you can learn a lot from her. Just keep in mind that even a dead clock is correct twice a day! A: "You know how I feel about the mayor, but even I think he's right this time." B: "Even a dead clock is correct twice a day." A: "I can't believe that doofus Billy figured out the answer to that really hard math question." B: "Hey, even a dead clock is correct twice a day."

See also: clock, correct, dead, twice

all correct

1. Indeed. All correct—see you then. A: "Is this where I should wait for the next train to the city?" B: "Yes, all correct." All correct, the party does start at 5:00.

2. In good order. Our accountant took a look at the accounts and proclaimed them all correct. Please tell me that the contract is all correct now. I've been working on it for hours! He looked through my documents, pronounced them all correct, and allowed me to proceed to the metal detector.

See also: all, correct

all present and correct

All people or things being tallied are present, or their location or status is known or has been considered. Primarily heard in UK. A: "Have you finished checking the inventory?" B: "Yes sir, all present and correct." The students are all present and correct, so we can leave for the field trip now. Please tell me that the files we need for the audit are all present and correct.

See also: all, and, correct, present

correct me if I'm wrong

Used to introduce a piece of information one believes is true, especially as a means of correcting someone else. A: "I suggest you decompile the code in its entirety and then run a debug." B: "Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but won't that cause the debugger to crash?" Correct me if I'm wrong, Sam, but isn't it your responsibility to make sure these bugs are fixed prior to release?

See also: correct, if, wrong

politically correct

Describing statements or behavior careful to avoid offense or insensitivity. Our CEO is constantly being criticized in the media because he rarely makes politically correct speeches.

See also: correct

stand corrected

To admit that one was incorrect or has been proven wrong. A: "No, John, the wedding was in Nevada, not Utah." B: "Oops, I stand corrected."

See also: correct, stand

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

stand corrected

to admit that one has been wrong. I realize that I accused him wrongly. I stand corrected. We appreciate now that our conclusions were wrong. We stand corrected.

See also: correct, stand

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

politically correct

Also, PC or p.c. Showing an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustices caused by prejudice. It often involves changing or avoiding language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background. For example, Editors of major papers have sent out numerous directives concerning politically correct language . This expression was born in the late 1900s, and excesses in trying to conform to its philosophy gave rise to humorous parodies.

See also: correct

stand corrected

Agree that one was wrong, as in I stand corrected-we did go to Finland in 1985. This idiom was first recorded in John Dryden's The Maiden Queen (1668): "I stand corrected, and myself reprove."

See also: correct, stand

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

all present and correct

used to indicate that not a single thing or person is missing.

1982 Bernard MacLaverty A Time to Dance She began to check it, scraping the coins towards her quickly and building them into piles. ‘All present and correct,’ she said.

See also: all, and, correct, present

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

poˌlitically corˈrect

(abbr. PC) used to describe language or behaviour that deliberately tries to avoid offending particular groups of people: These days everybody has to be politically correct. I even heard someone the other day calling a short person ‘vertically challenged’!

See also: correct

all ˌpresent and corˈrect

(British English) (American English all ˌpresent and acˈcounted for) (spoken) used to say that all the things or people who should be there are now there: ‘Now, is everybody here?’ ‘All present and correct, Sir!’

This is used in the army to inform an officer that none of the soldiers in his or her unit are missing, injured, etc.

See also: all, and, correct, present

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

politically correct

Avoidance of speaking or behaving in a way that would offend anyone’s sensibilities concerning race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic levels, or politics. Surprisingly, this cliché of the latter twentieth century, well known enough to be sometimes abbreviated as P.C., was used in 1793 by J. Wilson in the U.S. House of Representatives: “‘The United States,’ instead of the ‘People of the United States,’ is the toast given. This is not politically correct” (cited by the OED). Presumably Mr. Wilson here was referring to precision in political language. The current meaning of the phrase did not surface until the mid-1900s and was a cliché by the 1990s. The negative, politically incorrect, is also sometimes used. A letter to the editor of the Chicago Daily Herald, writing about the proposed building of a Muslim mosque near ground zero in New York City, said, “Is it not ‘politically incorrect’ for a Muslim mosque to be built in this area?” (Georgene Beazley, August 21, 2010). And a character discussing a possible suspect, “Just keep an eye on him. These guys usually screw up. Most of them don’t think what they’re doing is wrong, just politically incorrect” (Nevada Barr, Burn, 2010).

See also: correct

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer