DEFINITION
adjective
1 extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend: a long, straight road.• (of hair) not curly or wavy.• (of a garment) not flared or fitted closely to the body: a straight skirt.• (of an aim, blow, or course) going direct to the intended target: a straight punch to the face.• Geometry (of a line) lying on the shortest path between any two of its points.• (of an arch) flat-topped.2 properly positioned so as to be level, upright, or symmetrical: he made sure his tie was straight.• [ predic. ] 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.4 [ attrib. ] in continuous succession: he scored his fourth straight win.5 (of an alcoholic drink) undiluted; neat: straight brandy.6 (especially of drama) serious as opposed to comic or musical: a straight play.7 informal (of a person) conventional or respectable: she looked pretty straight in her school clothes.• heterosexual.
adverb1 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.
noun1 a part of something that is not curved or bent, especially the concluding stretch of a racecourse: 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 (in poker) a continuous sequence of five cards.3 informal a conventional person.• a heterosexual person.4 S. African informal (in township slang) a 750 ml bottle of alcoholic drink.[perhaps a transferred sense of US slang straight ‘unadulterated whisky’.]
PHRASESget something straight make a situation clear, especially by reaching an understanding.go straight live an honest life after being a criminal.a straight face a blank or serious facial expression, especially 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.[a misinterpretation of Matt. 7:14, ‘Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it’.]
straight (or right ) away immediately: the clerk recognized her straight away.a straight fight Brit.a contest between just two opponents, especially in an election.straight from the shoulder 1 dated (of a blow) swift and well delivered. 2 (of words) frank or direct:sometimes he spoke straight from the shoulder and sometimes in puzzles.straight off (or out ) informal without hesitation or deliberation: Wendy drank half the bottle straight off.straight up informal 1 Brit.truthfully; honestly: come on, Bert, I won't hurt you—straight up. 2 chiefly N. Amer.unmixed; unadulterated: a dry martini served straight up.
DERIVATIVESstraightish adjective,straightly adverb,straightness noun
ORIGIN Middle English (as an adjective and adverb): archaic past participle of stretch.
Written by NativeEnglish
Native English Spain is dedicated to make learning English simple, fun and affordable for Spanish people.
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