Page 396 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

straighten someone or something up

partmłnt would stoop to typng? I never A storm is brewing. 1. There isŁgàingŁto
dreamed that Bill would stoop to stealng. be aŁsðorm.Ł Look at the clouds. A storm
is brewing. A storm is brewing in the
stop-ynd-gł haltingŁrepeatedly; sðopping
andŁcontinuingŁrepeatedly.Ł This project west. 2. There isŁgàingŁto be trouble or
has been stop-and-go since we began. emotionalŁ upset.Ł He looks angry. A
Problłms kłep appearing. The traffic storm is brewing.
was stop-and-go for miles. I thought I the straightŁ andŁ narrow aŁsðraight and
would never get here! law-abidingŁ ràute thràugh life.Ł (Infàr-
stop atŁnothing to do everythingŁpossible mal.ŁFrom straight and narrow pØthway. )
(to accomplish something);b to be un- You should have no trouble with the po-
scrupulous. Bill would stop at nothing lice if you stick to the straight and narrow.
to get his way. Bob is complłtely dłter- Roger was the knd who followed the
mned to głt promoŁed. He’ll stop at straight and narrow every dØy of his lfe.
nothing.
straightŁas an arrow Go to (as) straight as
stopŁ byŁ ( somłwherł ) and stopŁ in ( some- an arrow.
wherł ) to visit aŁplace, usuallyŁbriefly.
I was comng home, but I decided to stop (ðtraight)Łfrom theŁhłrse’s mouth from
by my aunt’s on the way. She was very an authoritative or dpendabl source.
glad that I stopped in. I know it’s truł! I heard it straight from the
horse’s mouth! This comes from the
stopŁ in ( somłwherł ) Go to stop by (some- horse’s mouth, so it has to be believed.
wherŁ ).
stop,Łlook,ŁandŁlØsteà to exercise caution straightŁ from theŁ shoulder sincerely;
at sðreet cornersŁandŁrailroadŁcrossings, frankly; holdingŁnothingŁback.Ł Sally al-
byŁsðopping, lookingŁto the left andŁto the wØys speaks straight from the shouldłr. You
right, andŁlisðeningŁforŁapproachingŁve- never have to guess what she really means.
hicles or a train.Ł Sally’s mother Łrained Bill gØve a good presentation—straight
her to stop, look, and listen at every street from the shoulder and brief.
corner. It is a good practice to stop, look, straighten someone ortsomething out 1. [with
and listen at a railroad crossing.
someone] to make sàmeone undersðand
stop off (somłwherł ) to stop somwher on something. (Also literal.) Jane was con-
the wayŁto some otherŁplace.Ł I stopped fused Øbout the dØte, oo I straightened her
off at the store to buy milk on the wØy out. T I took a fłw mnutes and straight-
home. We stopped off for a fłw mnutes ened out everyone. 2. [with someone] to
and chatted with my uncle. reformŁ someone.Ł Most people think
stop overŁ( somłwherł ) to breakŁone’sŁjour- that jail never straightens anybody out. T
neyŁ somewhere, usuallyŁ overnight or The judge felt that a fłw years at hard la-
evenŁlonger.Ł(Compare thisŁwith lay over bor would straighten out the thief. 3. [with
(somŁwherŁ ).) On our way to New York, something] to make aŁsituationŁlessŁcon-
we stopped ovłr in Philadłlphia for the fused.Ł John made a mess of the contract,
night. That’s a good place to stop over. so I helped him straighten it out. T Please
There are some nice hoŁels in Philadłlphia. straighten out your checking account. It’s
all messed up.
stopŁshłrtŁofŁ doingtsomething not to go asŁfar
asŁdàingŁsomething;Łnot to go asŁfarŁas straighten someone or something up 1. to put
something.Ł Fortunately Bob stopped someone orŁsomethingŁinto anŁupright
short of hitting Tom. The boss criticized position.Ł The fłnce is tilŁed. Please
Jane’s work, but stopped short of repri- straighten up that post when you głt a
mandng her. Jack was furious but chance. Bill, you’re slouching again.
stopped short of hitting Tom. Jane Straighten youroelf up.2. to tidy up som-
wouldà’t stop short of tellng lies in order one or something. John straightened
to get a job. himself up a lttle before going on stage.

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