straight

views updated May 17 2018

straight / strāt/ • adj. 1. extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend: a long, straight road. ∎  Geom. (of a line) lying on the shortest path between any two of its points. ∎  (of an aim, blow, or course) going direct to the intended target: a straight punch to the face. ∎  (of hair) not curly or wavy. ∎  (of a garment) not flared or fitted closely to the body: a straight skirt. ∎  (of an arch) flat-topped.2. properly positioned so as to be level, upright, or symmetrical: he made sure his tie was straight. ∎  in proper order or condition: it'll take a long time to get the place straight.3. not evasive; honest: a straight answer thank you for being straight with me. ∎  simple; straightforward: a straight choice between nuclear power and penury. ∎  (of a look) bold and steady: he gave her a straight, no-nonsense look. ∎  (of thinking) clear, logical, and unemotional. ∎  not addicted to drugs.4. in continuous succession: he scored his fourth straight win. ∎  supporting all the principles and candidates of one political party: he generally voted a straight ticket.5. (of an alcoholic drink) undiluted; neat: straight brandy.6. (esp. of drama) serious as opposed to comic or musical; employing the conventional techniques of its art form: a straight play. ∎ inf. (of a person) conventional or respectable: she looked pretty straight in her school clothes. ∎ inf. heterosexual.• adv. 1. in a straight line; directly: he was gazing straight at her keep straight on. ∎  with no delay or diversion; directly or immediately: after dinner we went straight back to our hotel I fell into bed and went straight to sleep. ∎ archaic at once; immediately: I'll fetch up the bath to you straight.2. in or into a level, even, or upright position: he pulled his clothes straight sit up straight!3. correctly; clearly: I'm so tired I can hardly think straight. ∎  honestly and directly; in a straightforward manner: I told her straight—the kid's right.4. without a break; continuously: he remembered working sixteen hours straight.• n. 1. a part of something that is not curved or bent, esp. the concluding stretch of a racetrack: he pulled away in the straight to win by half a second. ∎ archaic a form or position that is not curved or bent: the rod flew back to the straight.2. Poker a continuous sequence of five cards.3. inf. a conventional person. ∎  a heterosexual. PHRASES: get something straight make a situation clear, esp. by reaching an understanding.go straight live an honest life after being a criminal.a straight face a blank or serious facial expression, esp. when trying not to laugh: my father kept a straight face when he joked.the straight and narrow the honest and morally acceptable way of living: he's making a real effort to get back on the straight and narrow.straight out (or off) inf. without hesitation or deliberation: If you’re not going to help me, just say so straight out.straight up inf. 1. unmixed; unadulterated: a dry Martini served straight up.2. Brit. truthfully; honestly: come on, Bert, I won't hurt you—straight up.DERIVATIVES: straight·ish adj.straight·ly adv.straight·ness n.

straight

views updated May 18 2018

straight not curved or bent XIV; not oblique; honest XVI (obs. in XVII, revived in XIX); in proper order XIX; adv. XIV (s. away, s. off XVII). ME. streʒt, straʒt (as pp. adj. extended at full length), pp. of strecche STRETCH.
Hence straight vb. †(Sc.) stretch XIV; make straight XVI; superseded by straighten (-EN5) XVII. straightforward acting in a direct manner. XIX. f. phr. s. forward in a direct path onwards. straightway †by a direct course XV; immediately XVI.

straight

views updated Jun 11 2018

straight the straight and narrow the honest and morally acceptable way of living; a misunderstanding of Matthew 7:14, ‘Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way.’
straight from the horse's mouth expression for the original, authentic source of information; recorded from the 1920s, and probably referring to the ideal source for a racing tip.
straight from the shoulder (of words) frank and direct (literally, of a blow, swift and well-delivered.

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