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Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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?
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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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]
American Heritage Idioms