straighten

Universal Words verb 1 ~ (sth) (out) to become straight; to make sth straight: [VN] I straightened my tie and walked in. * [V] The road bends here then straightens out. 2 ~ (sth) (up) to make your body straight and upright: [VN] He stood up and straightened his shoulders. * I straightened myself up to answer the question. * [V] Straighten up slowly, then repeat the exercise ten times. PHRASALVERBS straighten sb<->out to help sb to deal with problems or understand a confused situation straighten sth<->out to deal with a confused situation by organizing things that are causing problems: I need time to straighten out my finances. straighten sth<->up to make sth neat and tidy