the straight and narrow
Definition of the straight and narrow
informal
: the way of living that is honest and morally proper His wife keeps him on the straight and narrow.
From the M-W Editors
Word by Word Definitions
: free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities
: generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation
: lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method
: in a straight manner
: straighten
: something that is straight: such as
: a straight line or arrangement
: straightaway
: of slender width
: of less than standard or usual width
: woven in widths usually less than 18 inches (46 centimeters)
: to decrease the breadth or extent of : contract
: to decrease the scope or sphere of : limit
: to lessen in width or extent : contract
: a narrow part or passage
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