be in the wrong—act in a way not morally justifiable:
- In all questions between a government and an individual, the presumption is that the government is in the wrong.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be in the wrong box—(UK coll.) be in a wrong position and so in difficulty or trouble:
- Mr. O’shea, if you report what a private member says to you then you will be in the wrong box.
be wrong—have the wrong idea or opinion; be incorrect in one’s statements, etc.:
- None of us are so proud as never to confess that we are wrong.