straight-shooter
|straight-shoot-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈstreɪtˌʃuːtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈstreɪtˌʃuːtə/
direct and honest person
Etymology
'straight-shooter' originates from English, a compound of the words 'straight' and 'shooter', where 'straight' meant 'not bent, direct' and 'shooter' is an agent noun from 'shoot' meaning 'to project (an arrow, bullet)'.
'straight' comes from Old English 'stræht' (via Middle English 'streit'); 'shooter' derives from the verb 'shoot' (Old English 'sceotan') plus the agent suffix '-er'. The compound 'straight-shooter' appears in American English in the late 19th to early 20th century.
Initially used literally for someone who shoots straight (i.e., aims and fires accurately), it later developed a figurative sense meaning 'a person who is frank, direct, and honest.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is frank, direct, and honest in speech; someone who tells the truth plainly.
He's a straight-shooter who always tells you exactly what he thinks.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
describing speech or behavior that is direct, candid, and honest.
She gave a straight-shooter answer to the question.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/08/31 21:17