strait-laced

strait-laced
also straight-laced, straitlaced
ADJ-GRADED (disapproval)
If you describe someone as strait-laced, you disapprove of them because they have very strict views about what kind of behaviour is moral or acceptable.

He was criticised for being boring, strait-laced and narrow-minded...

Our unconventional behaviour did in fact shock some of our more straitlaced friends.

Syn:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

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  • strait´-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

  • strait-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

  • Strait-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

  • strait-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

  • strait-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

  • strait-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

  • strait-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

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

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

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

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