set (one) straight
To correct one's attitude, belief, or behavior; to make sure one understands something correctly. I had to set Stephen straight after I realized that he'd been operating the machinery wrong this whole time. Helen told me she thought the moon landing was faked, so I had to set her straight!
set (something) straight
To straighten something out or make something properly arranged; to fix, correct, or make amends for something. We still need to set a few details straight in this contract before I'm ready to sign it. I've got to set my marriage straight before I can think of doing anything else.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
set someone straight
to make certain that someone understands something exactly. (Often said in anger or domination.) Please set me straight on this matter. Do you or do you not accept the responsibility for the accident? I set her straight about who she had to ask for permission to leave early.
set something straight
and put something straightto figure out and correct something; to straighten out a mess. I am sorry for the error. I am sure we can set it straight. We'll put this matter straight in a short time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
set straight
Correct someone by providing accurate information; also, make an arrangement honest or fair. For example, Let me set you straight about Lisa; she's never actually worked for us, or To set matters straight I'll pay you back Monday. It is sometimes put as set the record straight, meaning "correct an inaccurate account," as in Just to set the record straight, we arrived at ten. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
put/set somebody ˈstraight (about/on something)
make sure that somebody is not mistaken about the real facts in a situation: He thought I was a doctor of medicine, so I put him straight and told him I was a doctor of philosophy. OPPOSITE: lead somebody to believe (that...)Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
set (someone) straight
To inform (someone) of the truth of a situation.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.