straighten up

verb

1. to become or cause to become erect

2. to reform or become reformed

Idioms and Phrases

Make tidy, as in Let's get this room straightened up. [Second half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

There shall be no more merriment, and in the words of Nat King Cole, it is time to straighten up and fly right.

From Salon

She straightens up with her book and heads off down the sidewalk.

From Literature

Before she could straighten up completely, Jack yanked her out of the path of a block of snow, which crashed down right where she’d been standing.

From Literature

She straightened up the room and came over to the window to close the blinds.

From Literature

“It felt like coming over the top of a roller coaster and heading down — and then it straightened up immediately.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• bathe 
• brush 
• cleanse 
• clear up 
• disinfect 
• dredge 
• dust 
• mop 
• pick 
• pick up 
• rinse 
• scrape 
• scrub 
• soak 
• spruce up 
• sweep 
• vacuum 
• wash 
• wipe