Phrase guide

do the right thing

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To do what is ethical or just.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Qualifier: set phrase

Examples

  • There was a lot of money in the wallet I found, but I did the right thing and handed it in.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: do the decent thing, do the honorable thing, do the proper thing

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: egin zuzena izan — act ethically
  • Finnish: toimia oikein — act ethically
  • French: faire la bonne chose — act ethically
  • French: faire ce qu'il faut — act ethically
  • French: faire ce qu'il fallait — act ethically
  • French: bien faire — act ethically
  • Galician: facer o correcto — act ethically
  • Italian: fare la cosa giusta — act ethically
  • Polish: postępować słusznie — act ethically
  • Polish: postąpić słusznie — act ethically
  • Polish: postępować właściwie — act ethically
  • Polish: postąpić właściwie — act ethically
  • Portuguese: fazer a coisa certa — act ethically
  • Spanish: hacer lo correcto — act ethically