right stuff

American  

noun

Informal.

1. Usually the right stuff the necessary or ideal qualities or capabilities, as courage, confidence, dependability, toughness, or daring.

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Etymology

Origin of right stuff

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

You’re doing all the right stuff by yourself, and you’re among professionals, medical professionals, not Yahoos, and you can still have someone else make a mistake and your life is gone.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Eco-labels, while not perfect, are still a good indicator that you are buying the right stuff.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

While the Dolphins and Ravens couldn’t pull off upsets, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants had the right stuff against the Minnesota Vikings.

From Washington Times • Jan. 16, 2023

Esa said it wanted to widen the definition of what it means to have "the right stuff" to go into space.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2022

Several of the women let themselves hope that they, too, would get to show their "right stuff" and fly into space.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson