describing angles - lines and orientations

get something straight to make sure that you understand something completely:
Let's get this straight. Are you sure you left your bike by the cinema?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

straight

I. straight¹ S1 W2 /streɪt/ BrE AmE adverb
[Word Family: verb: ↑straighten; noun: ↑straight; adverb: ↑straight; adjective: ↑straight]
1. IN A STRAIGHT LINE in a line or direction that is not curved or bent
straight ahead/at/down/in front of etc
The book is on the table straight in front of you.
She was looking straight at me.
Terry was so tired he couldn’t walk straight.
He was sitting with his legs stretched straight out in front of him.
2. POSITION in a level or correct position:
He stopped in front of the mirror to put his tie straight.
Sit up straight, don’t slouch.
3. IMMEDIATELY immediately, without delay, or without doing anything else first
straight to/up/down/back etc
I went straight up to bed.
Go straight home and tell your mother.
straight after
I’ve got a meeting straight after lunch.
I think I should get straight to the point.
4. ONE AFTER THE OTHER happening one after the other in a series:
He’s been without sleep now for three days straight.
5. HONEST (also straight out) if you say or ask something straight, you say it in an honest direct way, without trying to hide your meaning:
I just told him straight that I wouldn’t do it.
She came straight out with it and said she was leaving.
I hope, for your sake, you’re playing it straight (=being honest).
I told him straight to his face (=speaking directly to him) what I thought of him.
6. think/see straight if you cannot think or see straight, you cannot think or see clearly:
Turn the radio down – I can’t think straight.
7. straight away (also straight off) British English spoken immediately or without delay:
I phoned my mum straight away.
8. go straight informal to stop being a criminal and live an honest life:
Tony’s been trying to go straight for about six months.
9. straight up spoken
a) used to ask someone if they are telling the truth:
Straight up? Did you really pay that much for it?
b) used to emphasize that what you are saying is true:
No, straight up, I’ve never seen him before.
10. straight from the shoulder British English informal if someone speaks straight from the shoulder, they say things in a very direct way, without trying to be polite

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adjective (straight·er, straight·est)

WITHOUT CURVES
1. without a bend or curve; going in one direction only
• a straight line
• a straight 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, vertical or parallel to sth

• Is my tie straight?

CLEAN/NEAT

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

WITHOUT INTERRUPTION
9. only before noun one after another in a series, without interruption
Syn: consecutive

• The team has had five straight wins.

ALCOHOLIC DRINK

10. (NAmE) (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
Opp: gay
more at ramrod straight(as) straight as a ramrod at ramrod, put/set the record straight at record _n.
Word Origin:
Middle English (as an adjective and adverb): archaic past participle of stretch.
Synonyms:
honest
frank • direct • open • outspoken • straight • blunt
These words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings, opinions or facts.
honest • not hiding the truth about sth: ▪ 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 sb 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 sb'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 sb's character: ▪ I'm a very open person.
honest/frank/direct/open/outspoken/straight about sth
honest/frank/direct/open/straight/blunt with sb
a(n) honest/direct/straight/blunt answer
a frank/direct/blunt manner
Example Bank:
• Can you hang that sign straight for me?
• His teeth were white and perfectly straight.
• I think he was pretty straight with me.
• I'm trying to get the house straight before the weekend.
• Keep going in a dead straight line.
• Keep the car straight when you're backing out.
• Keep your back absolutely straight.
• Let's get this absolutely straight.
• She had curled her naturally straight hair.
• She held herself very straight.
• She soon set me straight about what had happened.
• She tidied up and put the ornaments straight.
• He stepped back to make sure that the picture was straight.
• I don't think you're being straight with me.
• I expect a straight answer to a straight question.
• I was stranded for nine straight weeks.
• It's time for some straight talking.
• She won in straight sets.
• The team has had six straight wins.
• This was our third straight victory.

• You can trust Ben— he's (as) straight as a die.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

straight / streɪt / adjective , adverb (NOT CURVING)

A2 continuing in one direction without bending or curving:

a straight line

She's got straight blonde hair.

Skirts this summer are long and straight.

Can't you see it? - it's straight ahead (of you)!

The dog seemed to be coming straight at/for me.

Go straight along this road and turn left at the traffic lights.

See picture hair

straight / streɪt / adjective , adverb (HONEST)

B2 honest:

Just be straight with her and tell her how you feel.

informal Tell me straight, would you rather we didn't go tonight?

→ Compare bent adjective (DISHONEST)

straight out If you tell someone something straight out, you tell them directly and honestly, without trying to make what you are saying more pleasant:

I told her straight out that I didn't love her any more.

straight / streɪt / adverb (IMMEDIATELY)

B1 immediately:

I got home and went straight to bed.

Shall we go straight to the party or stop off at a pub first?

Time is short so I'll get straight to the point (= explain the matter immediately) .

→ See also straightaway

straight away/off B1 mainly UK immediately:

I knew straight away what you were thinking.

We don't need to go straight off - we can stay for a little while.

straight / streɪt / adjective [ before noun ] (CLEAR)

C1 clear or not complicated:

It's a straight choice - either you leave him or you stay.

Let's get this straight - you're travelling to Frankfurt on Monday and Brussels on Tuesday, is that correct?

→ See also straightforward (SIMPLE)

straight / streɪt / adjective (LEVEL)

B2 level and not sloping to either side:

This picture's not straight.

The shelf isn't straight - it sags in the middle.

straight / streɪt / adjective [ after verb ] mainly UK (TIDY)

tidy, or arranged in order:

It only took an hour to get the flat straight after the party.

Have you got a mirror? - I'll just put my hair straight.

straight / streɪt / adjective (PLAIN)

plain and basic, or without anything added:

No tonic for me, please, I like my vodka straight.

Straight pasta is very bland - you need some kind of sauce to make it interesting.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

straight / streɪt / adjective [ before noun ] (FOLLOWING EACH OTHER)

following one after another without an interruption:

They're the only team to have won ten straight games this season.

straight / streɪt / adjective informal (TRADITIONAL)

traditional or serious:

disapproving He was a nice enough bloke, but he was so straight - I always felt I had to be on my best behaviour with him.

There's a lot of straight theatre at the festival as well as the newer, more experimental stuff.

straight / streɪt / adjective informal (SEXUAL PREFERENCE)

not gay

straight / streɪt / adjective informal (NO DRUGS)

not using illegal drugs or alcohol:

He's been straight for five months.

straight / streɪt / adjective [ after verb ] informal (NOT OWING MONEY)

neither owing nor owed any money:

You bought the tickets, so if I pay for the taxi, we'll be straight.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

straight

/streɪt/
(straighter, straightest, straights)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A straight line or edge continues in the same direction and does not bend or curve.
Keep the boat in a straight line...
Using the straight edge as a guide, trim the cloth to size...
There wasn’t a single straight wall in the building.
ADJ
•
Straight is also an adverb.
Stand straight and stretch the left hand to the right foot...
ADV: ADV after v

2.
Straight hair has no curls or waves in it.
Grace had long straight dark hair which she wore in a bun.
ADJ: usu ADJ n

3.
You use straight to indicate that the way from one place to another is very direct, with no changes of direction.
The ball fell straight to the feet of Klinsmann...
He finished his conversation and stood up, looking straight at me...
Straight ahead were the low cabins of the motel.
ADV: ADV prep/adv

4.
If you go straight to a place, you go there immediately.
As always, we went straight to the experts for advice...
ADV: ADV prep/adv

5.
If you give someone a straight answer, you answer them clearly and honestly.
What a shifty arguer he is, refusing ever to give a straight answer.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Straight is also an adverb.
I lost my temper and told him straight that I hadn’t been looking for any job.
ADV: ADV after v

6.
Straight means following one after the other, with no gaps or intervals.
They’d won 12 straight games before they lost.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Straight is also an adverb.
He called from Weddington, having been there for 31 hours straight.
ADV: n ADV

7.
A straight choice or a straight fight involves only two people or things.
It’s a straight choice between low-paid jobs and no jobs...
ADJ: ADJ n

8.
If you describe someone as straight, you mean that they are normal and conventional, for example in their opinions and in the way they live.
Dorothy was described as a very straight woman, a very strict Christian who was married to her job.
ADJ

9.
If you describe someone as straight, you mean that they are heterosexual rather than homosexual. (INFORMAL)
His sexual orientation was a lot more gay than straight...
≠ gay
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
•
Straight is also a noun.
...a standard of sexual conduct that applies equally to gays and straights.
N-COUNT

10.
A straight drink, especially an alcoholic drink, has not had another liquid such as water added to it.
...a large straight whiskey without ice...
= neat
ADJ: ADJ n, v n ADJ

11.
On a racetrack, a straight is a section of the track that is straight, rather than curved.
I went to overtake him on the back straight on the last lap.
N-COUNT
see also home straight

12.
If you get something straight, you make sure that you understand it properly or that someone else does. (SPOKEN)
Let’s get things straight. I didn’t lunch with her.
PHRASE: V inflects

13.
If a criminal is going straight, they are no longer involved in crime.
PHRASE: V inflects

14.
If something keeps people on the straight and narrow, it helps to keep them living an honest or healthy life.
All her efforts to keep him on the straight and narrow have been rewarded.
PHRASE: PHR after v

15.
a straight face: see face
to set the record straight: see record

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹straight /ˈstreɪt/ adj straight·er; -est [also more ~; most ~]
1 : not having curves, bends, or angles
• a straight line/edge
• She has long, straight hair.
• Keep your back straight.
2 : vertical or level
• The flagpole is perfectly straight.
• The picture isn't quite straight.
3 always used before a noun : following one after the other in order
• He has won three straight [=consecutive] tournaments. : following each other without interruption
• We sat in the airport for five straight hours.
4 : honest and direct
• They wouldn't give me a straight answer.
• He's known for his straight dealing.
• They're not being straight with you.
• What we want is some straight talk.
5 always used before a noun
a : including only two people or things
• It was a straight choice: accept the offer or don't.
• a straight exchange/swap
b : not including any things or parts of a different kind
• a straight romance novel
• The band plays straight blues.
• (US) He always votes a straight Democratic ticket. [=he always votes for Democratic candidates]
• (US) She got straight A's in all her classes last year. [=she got an A in every class]
• (US) a straight-A student
6 not used before a noun : with everything in its proper place
• After supper, the kids helped set/put the kitchen straight. [=tidy up the kitchen]
7 not used before a noun : agreeing with what is true or what is stated to be true
• We have to have our stories straight or else the police will get suspicious.
• Let me get this straight [=I am surprised/confused by what you are saying and I want to be sure that I understand you correctly]: You want me to lend you $2,000?
• You need to get your facts straight. [=you need to get your facts correct]
• He set/put her straight about/on what happened. [=he corrected her and explained to her what actually happened]
- see also set/put the record straight at ¹record
8 not used before a noun informal : having nothing owed by either side
• You pay for my ticket, and I'll consider us straight. [=even]
9 : behaving in a way that is socially correct and acceptable
• (disapproving) She's too straight [=conventional] and needs to lighten up.
• (informal) He left the gang and promised himself that he would go straight. [=stop being a criminal]
10 informal : heterosexual
• He's gay but he has a lot of straight friends.
11 : not using drugs or alcohol
• She has been straight for two years now.
12 US of alcoholic drinks : not mixed with anything : without ice or water added
• I like my bourbon/whiskey straight. [=neat]
• I'll have a martini straight up.
13 : not joking or funny : serious
• a straight actor
• straight theatrical drama
- see also straight man
- straight·ness noun [noncount]