playing it straight

Verb

play it straight (third-person singular simple present plays it straight, present participle playing it straight, simple past and past participle played it straight)

1. (idiomatic) To behave in a manner that is straightforward, honest, or sincere.
   • "The position you'd put me in would be this—of playing a game—and a jolly important game at that—in which the loser loses to me on purpose. . . . If we're going to play a game," he continued, addressing Davenant, before the latter had time to speak, "for Heaven's sake let us play it straight—like...1911, Basil King, chapter 16, in The Street Called Straight
2. (idiomatic, performing arts) To perform a role in a manner that is not comedic or exaggerated.
   • And how can you not admire a man who could star in a stinker like Battlestar Galactica—and play it straight?1998 March 11, Mark Coatney, “Lloyd Bridges, 1913-1998”, in Time, retrieved 02 Sep 2017
3. (idiomatic) To avoid criminal behavior.
   • "But the best thing about him is that he always played it straight with us—never double‐dealed, giving us two and keeping one for himself."1976 July 11, Nicholas, “Don't call me an informant”, in New York Times, retrieved 02 Sep 2017

   Synonyms:

   go straight