straighten out

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See synonyms for straighten out on Thesaurus.com

verb (adverb)

to make or become less complicated or confusedthe situation will straighten out

US and Canadian to reform or become reformed

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby straighten out

straight bill of lading, straight-chain, straight chair, straightedge, straighten, straighten out, straighten up, straight face, straight fight, straight flush, straightforward

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

How to use straighten out in a sentence

Brown was always quick to straighten out an IKE in the FDNY, but he could do nothing about the IKEs in Washington.
The Bush Administration Know-It-Alls Who Failed to Heed Warnings Before 9/11|Michael Daly|September 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In short, Romney needed to straighten out his financial affairs, and those around him should have told him to do it long ago.
Mitt Romney Lost the Summer: Tax Returns, Overseas Gaffes, & More|Robert Shrum|August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But, now, to straighten out this coil; to shake himself finally free of Chloe, and make Daphne happy again!
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
A friend of Michel's undertook to straighten out his affairs, and managed to save fifteen thousand francs out of the wreck.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue

Quickly straighten out all the fingers, and the band will snap over the last two fingers, as shown in Fig. 4.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
Idly his finger seemed to catch in a half open pamphlet, and he bent down casually to straighten out the page.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
"I intended to have a talk with you and straighten out some things," he went on.
The Highgrader|William MacLeod Raine

Other Idioms and Phrases with straighten out

straighten out

Clear up disorder, a confusion, or a misunderstanding, as in This is an awful mess; I hope you'll straighten it out, or I don't understand; please straighten me out. [Late 1800s]

Adopt an honest, upright course, as in He's only sixteen; I'm sure he'll straighten out before long. [First half of 1900s]

straighten out

Words nearby straighten out

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How to use straighten out in a sentence

Other Idioms and Phrases with straighten out