1. Home
2. Idioms
3. set straight

set straight

---

---

set someone straight

to make certain that someone understands something exactly. (Often said in anger or domination.) Please set me straight on this matter. Do you or do you not accept the responsibility for the accident? I set her straight about who she had to ask for permission to leave early.

See also: set, straight

set something straight

 and put something straight

to figure out and correct something; to straighten out a mess. I am sorry for the error. I am sure we can set it straight. We'll put this matter straight in a short time.

See also: set, straight

set somebody/something straight

to tell someone the true facts about a situation that they had not understood correctly If you think we won't be affected by what's happening in Asia, our chief economist would like to set you straight.

Related vocabulary: set the record straight

See also: set, straight

set straight

Correct someone by providing accurate information; also, make an arrangement honest or fair. For example, Let me set you straight about Lisa; she's never actually worked for us, or To set matters straight I'll pay you back Monday. It is sometimes put as set the record straight, meaning "correct an inaccurate account," as in Just to set the record straight, we arrived at ten. [First half of 1900s]

See also: set, straight

set (someone) straight

To inform (someone) of the truth of a situation.

See also: set, straight