to right the ship
4
7.0
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
enderezar la situación
- To ensure the company remains competitive, the CEO implemented a new strategy to right the ship and focus on growth.
- try to right the ship
- help right the ship
Bottom line, like Marquez, I'm still rooting for them and there is tons of time left to right the ship.
- Bottom line, like Marquez, I'm still rooting for them and there is tons of time left to right the ship.
- We just need enough time to right the ship because the Boomers have taken a completely off course.
- Facing stormy seas and fiscal headwinds, the Fed had to right the ship with limited access to monetary policies usual instruments.
- That was something you use to stay steadfast and right the ship here.
Examples
-
In the midst of a financial emergency, Mills College will lay off faculty and restructure academic programs in an effort to right the ship.
Academic text (2017) -
Despite the ongoing funk that the Nuggets seem to be in, they can right the ship tonight in San Antonio.
Blog text (30) -
Begin to right the ship at home, and all our other challenges can be managed.
Blog text (8) -
Though wise and far seen leaders would attempt to right the ship, none were prepared for what was to come.
-
Struggling Kings need to right the ship fast.
Blog text (24) -
Sanchez should get one last game here to try and right the ship.
Blog text (33) -
The only way to right the ship (and it will be very painful) is to stop the spending.
Blog text (28) -
Spagnuolo said the situation is frustrating, but he expressed confidence that his unit could right the ship.
Blog text (11) -
Luckily for Ken Whisenhunt, there remains plenty of time to right the ship and contend for the playoffs.
Blog text (25) -
The manager quickly took action to right the ship after the project faced delays.
Synonyms
71
2.1
To try to make a damaged relationship or reputation better
45
6.0
To fix something that is wrong and make things right
41
4.4
To put something back into an upright position
7
3.6
To fix a mistake or problem and return things to normal
To make a situation calm and stable during a difficult time
Antonyms
How Fixed
- Informal
4
7.0
∞
1.0
365
1.0
- US
75
4.3
104
4.2
81
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
right + the + ship
The core verb 'right' (to put upright or correct) directly maps onto the idea of restoring or correcting something, so the literal sense partly supports the figurative meaning. However, understanding 'ship' as a metaphor for an organization or situation requires a figurative leap that a B1 learner who merely knows the constituent words may not reliably make without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Right the ship comes from the image of a real boat. If a storm makes a ship lean, sailors must push it back upright, to right it, so it is steady again. That's why the phrase means 'to fix a problem or restore order'.