straight-from-the-shoulder

[streyt-fruhm-thuh-shohl-der]

adjective

1. direct, honest, and forceful in expression; outspoken.

Idioms and Phrases

In a direct, forthright manner, as in I'll tell you, straight from the shoulder, that you'll have to do better or they'll fire you. This expression comes from boxing, where it describes a blow delivered with full force. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.