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Definition of straight adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

straight

adjective
 
 
/streɪt/
 
/streɪt/
(comparative straighter, superlative straightest)
Idioms
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    without curves

  1.  
     without a bend or curve; going in one direction only
    • a straight road
    • long, straight hair (= not curly)
    • a boat sailing in a straight line
    • straight-backed chairs
    • Keep the car straight when you're backing out.
    Extra Examples
    • The road was very long and very straight.
    • Keep your back absolutely straight.
    • She had curled her naturally straight hair.
    • She held herself very straight.
    • Keep going in a dead straight line.
    Topics Colours and Shapesa2, Appearancea2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    • become
    • …
    adverb
    • absolutely
    • completely
    • dead
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    in level/correct position

  2.  
     positioned in the correct way; level, vertical or parallel to something
    • Is my tie straight?
    • He stepped back to make sure that the picture was straight.
    • Her teeth were white and perfectly straight.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    • hang something
    • …
    adverb
    • absolutely
    • completely
    • perfectly
    • …
    See full entry
    3.

    clothing

  3. not fitting close to the body and not curving away from the body
    • a straight skirt
    4.

    aim/blow

  4. going directly to the correct place
    • a straight punch to the face
    5.

    clean/neat

  5. [not usually before noun] clean and neat, with everything in the correct place
    • It took hours to get the house straight.
    • I'm trying to get the house straight before the weekend.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • get something
    • put something
    • …
    See full entry
    6.

    honest

  6. honest and direct
    • I expect a straight answer to a straight question.
    • straight with somebody 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).
    Synonyms honesthonestfrank ▪ direct ▪ open ▪ outspoken ▪ straight ▪ bluntThese words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings, opinions or facts.honest not hiding the truth about something:
    • Thank you for being so honest with me.
    frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like:
    • To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam.
    direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:
    • You’ll have to get used to his direct manner.
    Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a ‘polite’ way of saying that somebody is rude.    open (approving) (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden:
    • He was quite open about his reasons for leaving.
    outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people:
    • She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.
    straight honest and direct:
    • I don’t think you’re being straight with me.
    blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:
    • She has a reputation for blunt speaking.
    which word?
    • Honest and frank refer to what you say as much as how you say it:
      • a(n) honest/​frank admission of guilt.
      They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that other people might not like. Direct, outspoken and blunt all describe somebody’s manner of saying what they think. Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what you believe to be right. Blunt and direct often suggest that you think honesty is more important than being polite. Open is positive and describes somebody’s character:
      • I’m a very open person.
    Patterns
    • honest/​frank/​direct/​open/​outspoken/​straight about something
    • honest/​frank/​direct/​open/​straight/​blunt with somebody
    • a(n) honest/​direct/​straight/​blunt answer
    • a frank/​direct/​blunt manner
    Topics Personal qualitiesc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • absolutely
    • completely
    • totally
    • …
    preposition
    • with
    See full entry
    7.

    choice

  7. [only before noun] simple; involving only two clear choices
    • It was a straight choice between taking the job and staying out of work.
    • (British English) The election was a straight fight between the two main parties.
    Topics Preferences and decisionsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • get something
    • put somebody
    • …
    adverb
    • absolutely
    See full entry
    8.

    actor/play

  8. [only before noun] (of an actor or a play) not connected with comedy or musical theatre, but with serious theatre

    9. without being interrupted

  9. [only before noun] one after another in a series that is not interrupted synonym consecutive
    • The team has had five straight wins.
    Extra Examples
    • I was stranded for nine straight weeks.
    • This was our third straight victory.
    • She won in straight sets.
    10.

    alcoholic drink

  10. (British English also neat)
     not mixed with water or anything elseTopics Drinksc2

    11. normal/boring

  11. (informal) you can use straight to describe a person who is normal and ordinary, but who you consider boring

    12. sex

  12. (informal) heterosexual opposite gayTopics People in societyc1
    13. Word OriginMiddle English (as an adjective and adverb): archaic past participle of stretch.
Idioms
get something straight
  1. to make a situation clear; to make sure that you or somebody else understands the situation
    • Let's get this straight—you really had no idea where he was?
    • Let's get this absolutely straight.
    Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2
put/set the record straight
  1. to give people the correct information about something in order to make it clear that what they previously believed was in fact wrong
    • To put the record straight, I do not support that idea and never have done.
    Extra Examples
    • She called a press conference to set the record straight about her disappearance.
    • She welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight.
put/set somebody straight (about/on something)
  1. to correct somebody’s mistake; to make sure that somebody knows the correct facts when they have had the wrong idea or impression
    • She soon set me straight about what had happened.
    Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2
ramrod straight | (as) straight as a ramrod
  1. (of a person) with a very straight back and looking serious and formal
    • Her back was ramrod straight.
    • He stood there straight as a ramrod.
the straight and narrow
  1. (informal) the honest and morally acceptable way of living
    • His friends try to keep him on the straight and narrow.
a straight face
  1. if you keep a straight face, you do not laugh or smile, although you find something funny see also straight-faced
(earn/get) straight A’s
  1. (especially North American English) (to get) the best grades in all your classes
    • a straight A student
See straight in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee straight in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: straight

Nearby words

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