- An extremely forceful expression of agreement, confirming that what someone else said is absolutely true, often with a sense of justification, defiance, or pride.
Explanation
Origin
- Uses goddamn (a minced oath, originally 'God damn') as a very strong intensifier for right.
- Similar to Damn straight, but goddamn adds more intensity.
- Popularized in American English, particularly in film and media, often used by assertive or tough characters (e.g., Walter White's famous line You're goddamn right in Breaking Bad cemented its place in pop culture).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- No cap (Modern slang, meaning 'no lie', 'that's true')
- Facts
- Deadass (AAVE/NY slang, emphasizes seriousness/truth)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- You're fucking right (Equally or more intense)
- Fuckin' A
- Damn skippy (Older, somewhat playful but still emphatic slang)
Milder/Standard:
- You're absolutely right.
- That's completely true.
- I certainly did/was/am. (Confirming involvement/state)
- Indeed. (Formal)
Situational Appropriateness
- Highly informal and potentially confrontational. The use of goddamn makes it offensive in polite, formal, or religious contexts.
- Best reserved for situations where strong emphasis is needed and the audience will not be offended, or specifically for dramatic effect. Use with extreme caution.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners must understand the extreme intensity and potential offensiveness of goddamn. This is not a casual agreement.
- The context (defiance, pride, simple assertion) heavily influences the nuance.
Examples
- Person A: You risked everything for this. Person B: You're goddamn right I did.
- Person A: That must have been incredibly difficult. Person B: You're goddamn right it was.
- Person A (Accusingly): You knew about this all along! Person B (Defiantly): You're goddamn right.
Dialogue
Interviewer: They say you took a huge gamble investing your savings into this startup.
Entrepreneur: You're goddamn right I did. And it paid off.
Social Media Examples
- (Often used quoting characters or in memes): Walter White meme: Say my name. ...Heisenberg. You're goddamn right.
- (In a heated online debate): User A: You seem pretty passionate about this issue. User B: You're goddamn right I am!
- (Celebrating a hard-won victory): Did we earn this championship? You're goddamn right we did! #winners #hardworkpaysoff
Response Patterns
- Often met with silence, a nod of understanding, or perhaps grudging respect.
- Can effectively end a line of questioning or argument due to its forcefulness.
- The person hearing it might be slightly taken aback by the intensity.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says You're goddamn right:
- The conversation might pause, shift tone, or end that particular thread.
- The speaker might elaborate further, reinforcing their stance.
- It often serves as a powerful concluding statement to their point.
Conversation Starter
- No. It is a powerful response to a statement made by another person.
Intonation
- Very strong stress, typically on goddamn and right. You're GODDAMN RIGHT.
- Delivered with strong conviction, often assertively or defiantly. Can sound confrontational depending on context.
Generation Differences
- Widely recognized due to media, but direct usage might vary. Feels characteristic of assertive speech often depicted in movies/TV.
Regional Variations
- Strongly associated with American English.