go straight
Meaning
To stop committing crimes (or other bad habits) and start living an honest, law-abiding life.
Origin
From the older sense of “straight” meaning upright, honest, and morally correct (as opposed to crooked). So to “go straight” is to choose an honest course of life.
Notes
Often used about former criminals/addicts reforming. Don’t confuse with the literal direction meaning “continue straight ahead,” which is very common.
Examples
-
Go straight home after work; we’ll start dinner at seven.
-
If you go straight along this road, you’ll see the museum on your left.
-
He tried to go straight after college, but his old friends kept pulling him back into trouble.
-
Once you pass the station, go straight for two blocks and turn right at the bank.
-
After the accident, she promised herself she’d go straight and stay out of trouble.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Verb phrase: go straight / went straight / has gone straight. Often appears as “go straight after (prison/jail)” or “decide to go straight.” The literal directional use is different: “go straight ahead.”
Synonyms
- reform
- clean up (one's act)
- go clean
- straighten out
Antonyms
- turn to crime
- go bad
- fall off the wagon