to sound right
45
2.9
- phrasal verb
:
parecer correcto
- After explaining his reasoning, it finally sounded right and made sense to everyone.
That feels right or sounds right or looks right.
- That feels right or sounds right or looks right.
- It's sort of like, it sounds right, but it doesn't feel right.
- Pick the one that sounds right for you and get started today.
- Yeah, well, this right, this is what you're saying sounds right, but it is wrong.
- We just say yes to anything that sounds good, that sounds right, that feels OK in the moment.
- And if it didn't sound right to his ear, he rewrote it and rewrote it.
- I suspected that was wrong, didn't sound right.
- But cease and desist just does not sound right to me.
- Because in French we say bull denial, which is Christmas balls and that doesn't sound right.
- And so maybe one of you can correct me if you know China Mieville is that, does that sound right?
- I'm I'm ordering you go there and give her the facility bump which I'm not sure if that sounds right.
Examples
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By re-reading the sentence, they will be able to notice if it sounds right or not.
Academic text (2015) -
I knew something didn't sound right.
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Pick the one that sounds right for you and get started today.
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That feels right or sounds right or looks right.
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We just say yes to anything that sounds good, that sounds right, that feels OK in the moment.
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Yeah, that sounds right, I must have been in the middle of that.
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And if anything sounds awkward or strange, even though it looks OK, fix it so it sounds right.
Academic text (1995) -
Wait, does that sound right, or was my old provider giving me a bunch of bull?
Blog text (34) -
That sounds right, doesn't it?
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And maybe I need to apply, talk to recruiters, and see what sounds right for me.
Blog text (29)
Synonyms
187
2.8
Seem correct or suitable in a situation
How Convincing
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to seem correct or acceptable' is directly and compositionally derived from the verb 'sound' (to seem) plus the adjective 'right' (correct). This verb + adjective pattern is a common, transparent construction in English (and mirrored in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase sound right comes from the simple idea of hearing something that fits, like a musical note that is in tune. If a note sounds correct in a song it feels right, so the phrase now means 'to seem correct or reasonable'.