a person or their behaviour) honest and open; not hiding anything: At least he was quite straightforward about it; you can't say he was trying to deceive you. 2 not difficult to understand or explain; simple: The question's quite straightforward; why can't you answer it? 3 [A] not limited or lessened by any conditions; complete: a straightforward refusal ~~ly adv
straight-jack-et /'streit,dʒækʃt/ n a STRAITJACKET
'straight man n a performer whose job is to set up situations that allow his companion(s) to make jokes
'straight-out adj [A] especially AmE direct in speech; not trying to deceive: I gave him a straight-out answer. → see also straight out (STRAIGHT)
'straight ,shooter n AmE infml apprec a person who goes after what he wants in a very direct way
,straight 'ticket n (in elections in the US) a vote in which the voter has voted for all the CANDIDATES of one party: I vote the straight democratic ticket. → compare SPLIT TICKET
straight-way /'streit-wei/ adv old use or bibl at once; without delay
strain¹ /strein/ v 1 [T] to damage or weaken (oneself or a part of the body) through too much effort or pressure: You'll strain yourself/strain a muscle trying to lift that heavy weight. | Don't strain your eyes trying to read in this dim light. 2 [T] to separate (a liquid and solid) by pouring them into a container with very small holes, especially a strainer: Strain the vegetables and serve immediately. | Has this tea been strained? 3 [T] to make (something) go beyond acceptable limits: I think it's rather straining the truth to say he's handsome. | My patience has been strained to the limit(s). 4 [T] to use to the greatest possible degree: [+obj+to-v] I strained my ears to try and hear what they were saying. 5 [1] to make (too) great efforts: a writer straining after effect (=trying too hard to gain an effect). [+to-v] There was so much noise that I had to strain to hear what he was saying. | The singer had to strain to reach the high notes. 6 [(against)] especially lit to press oneself closely: He strained against the prison bars/against the ropes which tied him. 7 strain every nerve especially lit to try as hard as possible
strain at sthg. phr v [T] 1 to stretch or pull tightly: The boats were straining at their moorings. 2 straining at the leash eager to be free, especially so that one can do what one wants → compare champing at the bit (BIT)
strain² n [C;U] 1 a) the condition of being tightly pulled or stretched: The rope broke under the strain. b) the force causing this: The strain on these massive cables supporting the bridge is enormous | scientists use a strain gauge to measure it. 2 a state in which one is greatly troubled by anxieties and difficulties: The additional work put a great strain on him. | She's under a lot of strain at the moment; her daughter's very ill. | the stresses and strains of business life 3 a state of difficulty, distrust, opposition etc between people or groups; TENSION: the current strain in relations between the two countries 4 damage to a part of the body caused by too great an effort and often stretching of muscles: back strain → compare SPRAIN
strain³ n 1 [C(of)] a breed or type of plant or animal: This strain (of wheat) can grow even during a cold spring. 2 [S(of)] also strains pl. — especially lit a tune; notes of music: a pleasant strain | We heard the strains of the violin/a well-known song. 3 [S(of)] a particular quality which tends to develop, especially one passed from parents to children: There's a strain of madness in her family. 4 [S] fml the meaning of what one says or writes or the way in which it is expressed: He had appeared to be most sympathetic, but his comments in private were in a very different strain.
strained /streind/ adj 1 not natural in behaviour; unfriendly; TENSE: His manner was strained. | a strained smile | Relations between them are rather strained. 2 showing the effects of worry or tiring work: You're looking a bit strained.
strain·er /'streɪnər/ n an instrument of netlike material in the shape of a small bowl which keeps back solids when a liquid is poured through it
strait² adj especially bibl narrow and therefore usually difficult to pass through
strait¹ /streit/ also straits pl. — n (often cap. as part of a name) a narrow passage of water between two areas of land, usually connecting two seas: the Straits of Dover → see also STRAITS strait·ened /'streitnd/ adj fml, usually euph difficult becaus lacking money: They lost most of their money and now live i straitened circumstances.
strait-jacket, straight-jacket /'streɪt,dʒækʃət/ n 1 garment which holds the arms close into the body, preventing the wearer, especially a mad person, from making violent movements 2 derog something which prevents free development: the strait-jacket of censorship
strait·laced /streit'leist·/ adj derog having severe, rathe old-fashioned ideas about morals: She's too straitlaced t laugh at rude jokes.
Strait of Ma·gel·lan, the /,streit av мә'gelənl-'dze-/ narrow area of sea between Tierra del Fuego and the MAINLAN of South America. It connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and was discovered by Ferdinand MAGELLAN in 1520.
straits /streits/ n [P] an extremely difficult situation, such as illness or lack of money: Now that father's lost his job, we'r in dire/desperate straits.
strand¹ /strænd/ n [(of)] a single thin thread, wire, string piece of hair etc: Many strands are twisted together to form rope. | a strand of cotton | (fig.) strands of an argument | (fig.) A the end of the story the writer brings together all the strands of the plot.
strand² n especially poet a shore or BEACH beside a sea, lake, river
Strand, the a famous street in central London where the SAVOY Hotel and many theatres are
strand·ed /'strændʒd/ adj in a very unfavourable position of situation, especially alone among dangers and unable to go away: The tide had gone out, leaving the boat stranded on the rocks. | There I was, (left) stranded in a foreign country with no passport or money.
strange /streindz/ adj 1 difficult to explain or understand unusual or surprising: He's always here; it's strange you've never met him. He's got a strange habit of stroking his nos when he's trying to think. They put her strange behaviour down to severe emotional pressure. I'm a strong noise/smell/situation one of Dali's strangest paintings I should find it strange to think of her son getting married. It funny you should mention it; strange to say, I was wondering the same thing myself. I don't know or experience before; unfamiliar: all alone in a strange place/country. I'm a street he stood in was strange to him. I tell your children not to talk to strange men. I'm lacking knowledge or experience (in); not used to: She was strange to their customs, an found everything very confusing. I'm a good student. He's often here but strangely (enough), I've never met him. I'm a strong one.
strange 'bedfellows n [P] people working together who would not usually be expected to be friendly to each other used especially in the phrase, 'Politics and light entertainment make strange bedfellows'
stranger /'streindzər/ n 1, a person who is unfamiliar They never talk to strangers. | 'Have you met each other before?' 'No, we're strangers.' | A complete/perfect strange waved to me in the street. | (lit) She is no stranger to (=ver familiar with) misfortune. 2 a person in a new or unfamiliar place: 'Can you tell me the way to the station?' 'I'm sorry, I'm stranger here myself.' 3 Hello, stranger! infml (a greeting use to someone one has not seen for a long time)
'Strangers', Gallery, the n the part of the British HOUSE a COMMONS or of the HOUSE OF LORDS where members of the public can sit and watch what happens in Parliament
Strange·ways /'streindzweiz/ a prison in Manchester in northwest England, known especially as the place when prisoners took control and did a lot of damage in 1990, as protest against bad conditions in British prisons
stran·gle /ˈstrængəl/ v [T] to kill by pressing on the throat with the hands, a rope etc to stop breathing: He strangle his victim with a nylon stocking. \ (fig.) This government policies are slowly strangling the economy. —gler n
stran·gle·hold /'strænɡəlhəuld/ n 1 a strong hold round the neck, so as to stop someone breathing 2 [(on)] derog strong control or influence which prevents free movemen