straight and narrow

noun

1. the way of virtuous or proper conduct.

   After his release from prison, he resolved to follow the straight and narrow.

straight and narrow

noun

1. informal,  the proper, honest, and moral path of behaviour

Word History and Origins

Origin of straight and narrow¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of straight and narrow¹

perhaps an alteration of strait and narrow, an allusion to Matthew 7:14: ``strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life''

Example Sentences

Rashford has taken a significant stride on that road to redemption - now can he use the Barcelona stage to finally put his career back on the straight and narrow?

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He’s such a good guy, and we’re both on the straight and narrow.

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Nothing like a close call, a brush with doom, to scare you into staying on the straight and narrow.

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"I didn't keep them on the straight and narrow. They are just very sensible people with balance in their life," she says.

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His three-card monte skills are storied in the neighborhood, but he’s determined to proceed down the straight and narrow.

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