straightening out

Verb

straighten out (third-person singular simple present straightens out, present participle straightening out, simple past and past participle straightened out)

1. (transitive) To make straight.
   • Straighten out your necktie and comb your hair.

   Synonyms:

   straighten

2. (idiomatic, transitive) To correct or rectify.
   • I hope they can straighten out the problem with my bill soon.

   Synonyms:

   sort out

3. (idiomatic, transitive) To eliminate confusion from or concerning.
   • As soon as I straighten out which of the twins is which, I'll start calling them by their names.

   Synonyms:

   figure out, sort out, work out

4. (idiomatic, intransitive) To correct; to stop doing something wrong.
   • It is not enough to stand aside and hope problems straighten out on their own.

   Synonyms:

   work out

5. (transitive) To tidy, neaten, or organize.

   Synonyms:

   sort out, tidy up

6. (transitive, Mafia slang) To be made a made man in a Mafia organization.

See all 7 meanings of straighten out