the straight and narrow
noun
informal
: the way of living that is honest and morally proper
His wife keeps him on the straight and narrow.
Examples of the straight and narrow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The story for him in this episode is trying to stay on the straight and narrow, trying to be loyal to his team.
—
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 28 June 2024
There are other examples of countries that started down similar paths but were caught and, under pressure from larger states, returned to the straight and narrow.
—Ruth Greenspan Bell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2011
There's nothing like a chilling true crime story to help keep you on the straight and narrow.
—Melissa Sherrard, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Still, the reformed family man wasn’t always on the straight and narrow path.
—Alex Ross, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
Understanding The Roadblocks Although government oversight and market pressures are powerful motivators for keeping you on the straight and narrow path, their looming weight doesn’t guarantee compliance.
—Matt Lowe, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
With a healthy disdain toward the deluge of labels thrust upon anyone that veers from the straight and narrow, Gallardo Vásquez sets off in search of Machi Marcelina, a Mapuche elder and spiritual figure unjustly detained in a men’s prison after being accused of killing one of her patients.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 24 Aug. 2023
Just like my mother, Sadie dreams of a life outside of the straight and narrow path the women around her are walking.
—May Cobb, Good Housekeeping, 24 July 2023
Ex-fence/current furniture store owner Ray Carney has gone on the straight and narrow and hopes to stay that way despite persistent efforts of his former partners in crime.
—The Editors, Town & Country, 4 July 2023
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 28 June 2024
There are other examples of countries that started down similar paths but were caught and, under pressure from larger states, returned to the straight and narrow.
—Ruth Greenspan Bell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2011
There's nothing like a chilling true crime story to help keep you on the straight and narrow.
—Melissa Sherrard, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Still, the reformed family man wasn’t always on the straight and narrow path.
—Alex Ross, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
Understanding The Roadblocks Although government oversight and market pressures are powerful motivators for keeping you on the straight and narrow path, their looming weight doesn’t guarantee compliance.
—Matt Lowe, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
With a healthy disdain toward the deluge of labels thrust upon anyone that veers from the straight and narrow, Gallardo Vásquez sets off in search of Machi Marcelina, a Mapuche elder and spiritual figure unjustly detained in a men’s prison after being accused of killing one of her patients.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 24 Aug. 2023
Just like my mother, Sadie dreams of a life outside of the straight and narrow path the women around her are walking.
—May Cobb, Good Housekeeping, 24 July 2023
Ex-fence/current furniture store owner Ray Carney has gone on the straight and narrow and hopes to stay that way despite persistent efforts of his former partners in crime.
—The Editors, Town & Country, 4 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the straight and narrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the straight and narrow
Cite this Entry
“The straight and narrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20straight%20and%20narrow. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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