Meanings
- idiomaticThinking clearly, sensibly, and reasonably.
But the poor fellow was—what is it?—demented. He was not in his right mind.
1905, H. G. Wells, The Empire of the Ants3 more examples
“[…] Is Mike Hartley in his right mind, do you think, sir?” inquired Sweeting, simply. “Can’t tell, Davy; he may be crazed or he may be only crafty—or, perhaps, a little of both.”
1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Levitical”, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 17If you find she was not in her right mind, that she was the victim of insanity, hereditary or momentary, as it has been explained, your verdict will take that into account.
1873, Mark Twain, chapter 56, in The Gilded AgeWho in his right mind would want to know he had a disease that would inevitably rob him of that mind?
2010 October 31, Alice Park, “New Research on Understanding Alzheimer's”, in TimeSynonyms: sane
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseThinking clearly, sensibly, and reasonably.
Translations
Finnish järjissään
- järjissäänsane
French sain d'esprit
- sain d'espritsane
German bei Sinnen, bei klarem Verstand
- bei Sinnensane
- bei klarem Verstandsane
Hungarian normális, épeszű
- normálissane
- épeszűsane
- épelméjűsane
- eszénél vansane
Polish przy zdrowych zmysłach, o zdrowych zmysłach
- przy zdrowych zmysłachsane
- o zdrowych zmysłachsane
Romanian în toate mințile
- în toate mințilesane
Russian в здра́вом уме́, в своём уме́
- в здра́вом уме́ (v zdrávom umé)sane
- в своём уме́ (v svojóm umé)sane
Spanish en su sano juicio, en sus cabales
- en su sano juiciosane
- en sus cabalessane
- en su juiciosane
- muy en juiciosane
Cite this entry
in one's right mind. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20one's%20right%20mind
“in one's right mind.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20one's%20right%20mind. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in one's right mind,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20one's%20right%20mind.
Source: in one's right mind on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.