Straighten up: meaning, definitions and examples
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straighten up
[ ˈstreɪt(ə)n ʌp ]
instructing someone to improve their behavior or appearance
To straighten up means to tidy up or improve the appearance of something. It can also refer to improving posture or behavior.
Synonyms
clean up, neaten up, tidy up
Examples of usage
- Please straighten up your room before the guests arrive.
- He straightened up his tie before the job interview.
- If you want to be taken seriously, you need to straighten up your act.
recovering or getting organized
To straighten up can also mean to recover from a difficult situation or to get organized after a period of chaos.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- After the storm passed, it took them weeks to straighten up their house.
- She needed some time to straighten up her finances after losing her job.
Translations
Translations of the word "straighten up" in other languages:
🇵🇹 endireitar
🇮🇳 सीधा करना
🇩🇪 aufräumen
🇮🇩 merapikan
🇺🇦 випрямити
🇵🇱 prostować
🇯🇵 まっすぐにする
🇫🇷 redresser
🇪🇸 enderezar
🇹🇷 düzeltmek
🇰🇷 바르게 하다
🇸🇦 تقويم
🇨🇿 narovnat
🇸🇰 narovnať
🇨🇳 整理
🇸🇮 poravnati
🇮🇸 rétta við
🇰🇿 түзету
🇬🇪 გასწორება
🇦🇿 düzəltmək
🇲🇽 enderezar
Word origin
The phrasal verb 'straighten up' has its origins in Middle English and has evolved over time to its current usage. The combination of 'straighten' meaning to make something orderly or neat, and 'up' as an intensifier, creates a sense of improvement or recovery. The expression has been commonly used in English language for centuries, adapting to different contexts and meanings.