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straighten out

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straighten out

 

1. to become straight. The road finally straightened out. The train tracks straightened out on the plain.

2. . to improve one's behavior or attitude. I hope he straightens out before he gets himself into real trouble. Fred had better straighten out soon if he wants to get a job.

See also: out, straighten

straighten someone out

 

1. to make someone's body straight or orderly. The undertaker straightened Sam out in his coffin. Straighten out your body so I can massage your back.

2. . to cause someone to behave better or to have a better attitude; to reform someone. You are terrible. Someone is going to have to straighten you out! The principal straightened out the troublesome boys.

3. to help someone become less confused about something. Can you straighten me out on this matter? I will do what I can to straighten out the office staff on this question.

See also: out, straighten

straighten something out

 

1. to make something straighter. I can't straighten these heavy boxes out. Please straighten out this line of people.

2. . to bring order to something that is disorderly. See if you can straighten this mess out. Will you straighten out your room, please?

See also: out, straighten

straighten somebody out

also straighten out somebody

to cause someone's behavior or character to improve I thought marriage would straighten him out but it hasn't. He plays the part of an uncle trying to straighten out a troubled teenager.

See also: out, straighten

straighten something out

also straighten out something

1. to end uncertainty or confusion about something I'm sorry if our letter was confusing, but I'll straighten that out now. Sometimes I'll feel there's something I need to straighten out because no one's sure what to expect.

2. to arrange or organize something that is in disorder It took her a while to straighten out her father's accounts. When her husband died, there were problems with his will, and it took her a year to straighten them all out.

See also: out, straighten

straighten out

1. Clear up disorder, a confusion, or a misunderstanding, as in This is an awful mess; I hope you'll straighten it out, or I don't understand; please straighten me out. [Late 1800s]

2. Adopt an honest, upright course, as in He's only sixteen; I'm sure he'll straighten out before long. [First half of 1900s]

See also: out, straighten

straighten out

v.

1. To extend or smooth something until straight: The reception on my radio was poor, so I straightened out the antenna. I think my arm is broken; I can't straighten it out.

2. To resolve some confusion or conflict: We had to share a room until the hotel could straighten out the mix-up with our bookings. There was confusion among the athletes about the order of the races, so the coach came and straightened it out.

3. To make someone conform to a certain viewpoint or set of principles: We need better rehabilitation programs to straighten out these criminals. If your behavior doesn't improve, we'll have to send you to military school to straighten you out.

See also: out, straighten