strait-laced

  • 1strait´-laced´ly — strait laced «STRAYT LAYST», adjective. 1. very strict in matters of conduct; prudish: »I m not strait laced, but I tell you we got to have decent women in our schools (Sinclair Lewis). SYNONYM(S): stiff, formal. 2. Archaic. a) tightly laced. b) …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 2strait-laced — strait lacedly /strayt lay sid lee, layst lee/, adv. strait lacedness, n. /strayt layst /, adj. 1. excessively strict in conduct or morality; puritanical; prudish: strait laced censors. 2. tightly laced, as a bodice. 3. wearing tightly laced… …

    Universalium

  • 3Strait-laced — a. 1. Bound with stays. [1913 Webster] Let nature have scope to fashion the body as she thinks best; we have few well shaped that are strait laced. Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. Restricted; stiff; constrained. [R.] Fuller. [1913 Webster] 3. Rigid in …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4strait-laced — strait′ laced or straight laced adj. 1) excessively strict in conduct or morality; puritanical 2) tightly laced, as a bodice 3) wearing tightly laced garments • Etymology: 1400–50 strait′ lac ed•ly, adv …

    From formal English to slang

  • 5strait-laced — [strait′lāst′] adj. 1. Archaic a) tightly laced, as a corset b) wearing tightly laced garments 2. narrowly strict or severe in behavior or moral views …

    English World dictionary

  • 6strait-laced — UK / US or straight laced UK [ˌstreɪt ˈleɪst] / US [ˈstreɪt ˌleɪst] adjective showing disapproval morally very strict and old fashioned • See: straight laced …

    English dictionary

  • 7strait-laced — (adj.) 1540s, of stays or bodices; figurative sense of over precise, prudish is from 1550s; see STRAIT (Cf. strait) (n.) + LACE (Cf. lace) (v.) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 8strait-laced — (also straight laced) ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having or showing very strict moral attitudes …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9strait-laced — index provincial, severe, stringent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 10strait-laced — [adj] prudish old maidish, priggish*, prim, prissy*, proper, puritanical, rigid, square, starchy, stiff*, strict, stuffy, uptight*, Victorian*; concept 401 …

    New thesaurus