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Meaning & use

straight as a die

phrase·AdvancedBritishold-fashioned

Last updated

UK/ˌstreɪt əz ə ˈdaɪ/
US/ˌstreɪt əz ə ˈdaɪ/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiomapproving

    Completely honest and fair, with no tricks or hidden motives.

    Grammar: Used after 'be' to describe a person: he is straight as a die.

    Patterns

    • be straight as a die

    You can trust the builder; he's straight as a die.

    My grandmother was straight as a die and never told a lie.

    The new manager is straight as a die about money.

  2. phraseidiom

    Perfectly straight in shape, with no bends.

    Grammar: Describes lines, roads or things: the road ran straight as a die.

    Patterns

    • run straight as a die

    The old Roman road runs straight as a die across the plain.

    The carpenter drew a line straight as a die with his ruler.

    The hedge was clipped so that it ran straight as a die.

Common combinations

honest and straight as a die
He is honest and straight as a die.
run straight as a die
The canal runs straight as a die for miles.
as straight as a die
She is as straight as a die in business.
be straight as a die with someone
Be straight as a die with the customers and they will return.
a line straight as a die
The surveyor set out a line straight as a die.

Synonyms and how they differ

scrupulously honest
It is formal and stresses careful attention to doing right.
upright
It focuses on moral character and sounds more dignified.
straight arrow
It is an American idiom for a person who is honest and rule-following, sometimes slightly dull.
dead straight
It is a British expression for a perfectly straight line, with no moral meaning.

Opposites

crookeddishonest

Word family

straight adjective
without a bend; honest
straightforward adjective
honest and direct; easy to understand
straighten verb
to make straight
die noun
a metal tool or a gaming cube

Commonly confused: straight as a die or straight as an arrow?

straight as a die vs straight as an arrow

This is a similar idiom, but it is mainly about direction or shape, while 'straight as a die' is more often about honesty.

Practice

You can rely on her to tell you the truth, because she is ___.

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