straighten v.1
1. (Aus.) to defeat, to overcome; to beat up.
Robbery Under Arms (1922) 70: You ride straight, and don’t get up to any monkey tricks, or, by George, I’ll straighten you, so as you’ll know better next time. | ||
Such is Life 231: I’ll straighten you some of these times. | ||
Coll. Stories (1990) 105: He wasn’t used to such hard work [...] and this slave was straightening him. | ‘He Seen it in the Stars’ in||
Jungle Kids (1967) 111: ‘They got him,’ said Aiello again. ‘You need straightening, you jerk,’ I said. | ‘See Him Die’ in
2. (also straighten up) to settle an account or debt.
Mirror of Life 5 Sept. 3/1: [of an unintended victim] [I]t cost Hardaway [...] many a bright sovereign to sraighten ‘Mo’. | ||
Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 16 July 11/1: Joe [has] alwatys been a prince of a fellow, goes to the cupboard [...] to ‘straighten’ the kids kicking up the boards [...] only to find it bare. | ||
Really the Blues 216: I’m short a deuce of blips but I’ll straighten you later. | ||
‘Good-Doing Wheeler’ in Life (1976) 78: When I make that big sting, I’ll straighten you first thing. | et al.||
S.R.O. (1998) 217: ‘I figgered [...] I’d be able to straighten him out for the four [dollars]’. | ||
Wiseguy (2001) 99: We’d usually straighten up in a garment-center restaurant called Bobby’s. | ||
Vinnie Got Blown Away 99: You got your honour to straighten Nicky. |
3. (UK Und., also straighten out) to bribe, usu. to bribe a police officer [i.e. to make straight adj.1 (10)].
Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 11: Straighten (a case): To indice a prsecutor to drop case. | ||
There Ain’t No Justice 204: Every single one of your fights has bin fixed, see? Either the other bloke took the dive, or if that was a bit raw or if we thought we couldn’t straighten the other bloke, well we’ve straightened the ref. | ||
Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 213: You haven’t got the price to ‘straighten’ a screw. | ||
Ghost Squad 43: Usually they had the nightwatchman ‘straightened’ — which means bribed. | ||
Burglar to the Nobility 143: The Chief Magistrate [...] gave me a wink. I thought ‘Aye-aye, I’ve got the old geezer straightened’. | ||
Inside the Und. 23: The well-known euphemism of ‘straightening’ which means, of course, making crooked. | ||
Fixx 128: Local planning officers being straightened with briefcases packed with used fivers. | ||
Layer Cake 28: Jimmy’s one of the few guys in London who could straighten the very top old bill. | ||
Viva La Madness 25: An enterprising gent like Sonny would have people straightened out all over. |
4. to sort a person out, to make them aware, to initiate them; thus straightening n.
Mules and Men (1995) 129: ‘He’s de King of de Beasts, but he ain’t no King of de World, now Sack,’ Dad Boykin spoke up. ‘He thought he was King till John give him a straightenin’.’. | ||
Coll. Stories (1990) 38: I had to get them people straight an’ get ’em straightened fast. | ‘Let Me at the Enemy’ in||
Tell Them Nothing (1956) 84: He’s one guy I like [...] but that don’t mean I got to forget to straighten him. | ‘Cool Cat’ in||
Hiparama of the Classics 10: If they can’t get you straight, they know a Cat, that knows a Cat, that’ll Straighten you! | ||
Semi-Tough 144: ‘Well, it makes you a man,’ I said. Shake said, ‘That’s right, boy. Give ‘em a few heart-breakers along the way. Straighten ‘em up’. |
5. to look after, to sort out a situation.
Hiparama of the Classics 8: They straightened the nanny goats. | ||
‘Return of Honky-Tonk Bud’ in Life (1976) 69: I must confess I’ll straighten this mess. | et al.||
Jones Men 24: You help me out, I’ll straighten you. |
6. see straighten out v. (1)
In phrases
1. to render a third party sober.
Claude Garton 263: ‘I’ve had rare trouble to straighten up Cæsario in emergencies — vinegar, ammonia, cold affusions, and so on’. |
2. to take up, or encourage to take up, an honest, respectable life.
Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 24 Oct. 1/1: ‘If it [i.e. a newspaper] keeps on lashing it will straighten some of the conrk ’uns up and give fair play a chance’. | ||
Boss 159: There’s to be no more corruption; no more blackmail [...] Our first duty is to jump in an’ straighten up th’ village. | ||
Bullets For The Bridegroom (1953) 18: Pop, you old fool, straighten up. | ||
Pimp 96: I want you to straighten up. | ||
Animal Factory 119: Did you ever think about straightening up. | ||
🎵 His unc’ said, ‘Dolemite, / I want you to straighten up and treat your brother right.’. | ‘Dolemite’||
Workin’ It 116: Ain’t nowhere I’m going but jail. But that’s where I’m going if I don’t straighten up my act. | ||
(con. 1991-94) City of Margins 18: ‘You learned something tonight [...] What not to do. How not to be. Straighten up before it’s too late’. |
3. to cheer up.
Such is Life 143: It ain’t equal to Pain-killer for straightenin’ a person up. | ||
Autobiog. of My Dead Brother 81: They [upper-class adults hosting a party] were still giving us the fish eye [...] Then C.J. came in on the piano and you could see them straighten up. |
4. see sense 4 above.
(orig. US black) to behave oneself, to mend one’s ways and live a sensible, respectable life.
🎵 Straighten up and fly right / Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top. | ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’||
Forgive Me, Killer (2000) 13: If your job means anything to you, Mike, you better straighten up and fly right. | ||
Crazy Kill 8: straighten up and fly right. | ||
Yes We have No 177: The more he tries to straighten up and fly right, the more he’s shot down in flames. | ||
Dirty Game 144: And he had promised to straighten up and fly right, once he got out, if she promised to stay loyal to him. |