straighten up
phrasal verb
straightened up; straightening up; straightens up
1
: to make (something) organized or tidy : to put (something) in order
They straightened up the house after the party.
2
: to move the body to an upright position
Straighten up. There's no excuse for slouching.
3
US
: to improve in behavior
You need to straighten up, young man.
Examples of straighten up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The show followed an Instagram-famous organizing company as its two founders straightened up Reese Witherspoon’s closet and Khloé Kardashian’s garage and Jordana Brewster’s refrigerator, among other cluttered storage areas of the rich and fabulous.
—
Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024
Providing assistance around the house like taking the dog out for a walk or straightening up can also be a big help.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Hello Alfred positioned itself as a twice-weekly concierge for your house, picking up dry cleaning, straightening up, and delivering groceries for a $99 a month fee.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Let cosmic energy fill you with motivation -- potentially someone will visit as a reason to straighten up, or your efforts could all be out of self-care.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2023
Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024
Providing assistance around the house like taking the dog out for a walk or straightening up can also be a big help.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Hello Alfred positioned itself as a twice-weekly concierge for your house, picking up dry cleaning, straightening up, and delivering groceries for a $99 a month fee.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Let cosmic energy fill you with motivation -- potentially someone will visit as a reason to straighten up, or your efforts could all be out of self-care.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'straighten up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near straighten up
Cite this Entry
“Straighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20up. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on straighten up
Nglish: Translation of straighten up for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of straighten up for Arabic Speakers
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