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We’re getting right off the subject.

What's the role of the 'right'? Does it stress the meaning of the sentence?

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    It's an adverb functioning as a modifier in the structure of the preposition phrase "Right off the subject".
    – BillJ
    Commented Mar 26, 2022 at 15:42

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We’re getting [right off the subject]

"Right" is an adverb here.

It's a modifier in the structure of the bracketed preposition phrase.

Here, it metaphorically denotes exactitude of direction.

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It stresses the extent to which -- i.e. how far -- we are getting away from the initial subject. But specifically, it does that in such a way as to imply that we shouldn't be doing it!

So, yes, in that sense it emphasizes the meaning.

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  • We're getting right or straight to the point.

COMPARE:

  • We're completely missing the point.
  • We're going off course here. [as in navigation, to be off course]

right means straight: right to the point or subject and that means directly or exactly to the point or subject.

Generally, when going off course as regards a topic, adjectives meaning precisely are not used.

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