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Synonyms

straight man

American  

noun

  1. an entertainer who plays the part of a foil for a comic partner.

straight man British  

noun

  1. a subsidiary actor who acts as stooge to a comedian

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of straight man

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make sense in this case,” Meyers said, playing the straight man.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025

But he has grown into his role at “Saturday Night Live,” proving to be an especially strong straight man adept at the comedy of embarrassment.

From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2024

Jadeja is a nice contrast - steady, quick, chipping away, the straight man to Ashwin's varied expressions.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

It's an NPR type show, and Barb is sort of the straight man in a way, although she's funny too in her own right.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2024

Well, I want a straight man, with good nerves and a cool head, to run a sugar estate for me.

From The Dust of Conflict by Bindloss, Harold

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.