straight

Universal Words adverb, adjective, noun adverb (straighter, straightest) not in curve 1 not in a curve or at an angle; in a straight line: Keep straight on for two miles. * Can you stretch your arms out straighter? * He was too tired to walk straight. * I can't shoot straight (= accurately). * She looked me straight in the eye. immediately 2 by a direct route; immediately: Come straight home after school. * I was so tired I went straight to bed. * She went straight from college to a top job. * I'm going to the library straight after the class. * I'll come straight to the point-your work isn't good enough. in level / correct position 3 in or into a level or upright position; in or into the correct position: Sit up straight! * She pulled her hat straight. honestly 4 honestly and directly: I told him straight that I didn't like him. * Are you playing straight with me? without interruption 5 continuously without interruption: They had been working for 16 hours straight. IDIOMS go straight (informal) to stop being a criminal and live an honest life play it straight to be honest and not try to deceive sb straight away immediately; without delay: I'll do it straight away. straight from the shoulder if you say sth straight from the shoulder, you are being very honest and direct, even if what you are saying is critical straight off / out (informal) without hesitating: She asked him straight off what he thought about it all. straight up (BrE, spoken, informal) used to ask if what sb has said is true or to emphasize that what you have said is true: I saw it-straight up! moreatTHINKv. adjective (straighter, straightest) without curves 1 without a bend or curve; going in one direction only: a straight line / road * long straight hair (= without curls) * a boat sailing in a straight line * straight-backed chairs clothing 2 not fitting close to the body and not curving away from the body: a straight skirt aim / blow 3 going directly to the correct place: a straight punch to the face in level / correct position 4 positioned in the correct way; level, upright or parallel to sth: Is my tie straight? clean / neat 5 [notusuallybeforenoun] clean and neat, with everything in the correct place: It took hours to get the house straight. honest 6 honest and direct: a straight answer to a straight question * I don't think you're being straight with me. * It's time for some straight talking. * You can trust Ben-he's (as) straight as a die (= completely honest). choice 7 [onlybeforenoun] simple; involving only two clear choices: It was a straight choice between taking the job and staying out of work. * (BrE) The election was a straight fight between the two main parties. actor / play 8 [onlybeforenoun] (of an actor or a play) not connected with COMEDY or musical theatre, but with serious theatre without interruption 9 [onlybeforenoun] one after another in a series, without interruption: The team has had five straight wins. alcoholic drink 10 (AmE) (BrE neat) not mixed with water or anything else normal / boring 11 (informal) you can use straight to describe a person who is normal and ordinary, but who you consider dull and boring sex 12 (informal) HETEROSEXUAL OPPGAY straightness noun [U] IDIOMS (earn / get) straight A's (especially AmE) (to get) the best marks/grades in all your classes: a straight A student get sth straight to make a situation clear; to make sure that you or sb else understands the situation: Let's get this straight-you really had no idea where he was? a straight face if you keep a straight face, you do not laugh or smile, although you find sth funny seealsoSTRAIGHT-FACED put / set sb straight (about / on sth) to correct sb's mistake; to make sure that sb knows the correct facts when they have had the wrong idea or impression the straight and narrow (informal) the honest and morally acceptable way of living: His wife is trying to keep him on the straight and narrow. moreatRAMROD, RECORDn. noun sex 1 (informal) a person who has sexual relationships with people of the opposite sex, rather than the same sex: gays and straights of road / track 2 (AmE also straightaway) a straight part of a RACETRACK or road seealsoTHEHOMESTRAIGHT