To be straight with someone meaning in English
Learn how to use To be straight with someone correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
I'll be straight with you: I'll be honest with you, I'll be frank with you
Straight literally means "not curving" and in a figurative sense means "honest":
The bakery is straight ahead. It's just up this road, you don't have to turn left or right.
Give it to me straight. Just tell me the truth.
(I think the deal is) straight: (I believe this business proposition is) honest, fair, legal, legitimate
Examples
- "Let's just do a straight trade: 100 Australian Dollars for 100 US Dollars..."
- "Brian : Look Mr. T-Bone. I'll be straight with you."
- "Susie : Look, I'll be straight with you, Mr. McDoody: Delavigne's on an extremely tight schedule for the next season."
Exercise 1
"I'll be straight with you"
Let's look at meaning of this and other idioms used in the conversation.
to be straight with someone -->
to play your cards right -->
to get down to business -->
Let's look at meaning of this and other idioms used in the conversation.
to be straight with someone -->
to play your cards right -->
to get down to business -->
"I'll be straight with you"
Let's look at meaning of this and other idioms used in the conversation.
to be straight with someone --> to be frank with someone 1
to play your cards right --> to act in an intelligent or strategic manner 2
to get down to business --> to move to the main subject 3
Let's look at meaning of this and other idioms used in the conversation.
to be straight with someone --> to be frank with someone 1
to play your cards right --> to act in an intelligent or strategic manner 2
to get down to business --> to move to the main subject 3
1 to be frank with someone: This is correct. "To be straight with someone" is to be frank or direct with someone. Example: I'll BE STRAIGHT WITH YOU Mrs Mitchell, your pet dog will never be able to drive a car. In the conversation, Susie says to Steve, "Look, I'll be straight with you, Mr. McDoody: Delavigne's on an extremely tight schedule for the next season". Here, Susie is preparing Steve for the fact that she is going to be honest.
1 to be with someone very soon: This is incorrect. To express that you will be with someone very soon, it would be better to say, "I'll be RIGHT with you".
1 to propose someone an honest deal: This is incorrect.
2 to act in an intelligent or strategic manner: This is correct. "To play your cards right" is to act in a smart way that allows you to succeed or get what you want. Example: If you PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT, you could be CEO of Delavigne in 5 years' time. In the conversation, Susie says to Steve, "we're looking at a colossal third quarter gain if we play our cards right". This means that if they both act intelligently, there will be financial rewards for everyone.
2 to behave in an honest fashion: This is incorrect. "To play your cards right" does not mean "to behave in an honest fashion".
2 to gamble on an unlikely outcome: This is incorrect. "To play your cards right" does not mean "to gamble on an unlikely outcome". "To gamble" is to risk something, often money, on the outcome of something involving chance.
3 to move to the main subject: This is correct. "To get down to business" is to move to the main subject. This expression is often used to start meetings. Example: Shall we GET DOWN TO BUSINESS, I'd like to finish this meeting by 3pm. In the conversation, Steve says, "shall we get down to business? What's your offer?", to show that he wants to move to the principal subject that they have both come to talk about.
3 to sign a contract: This is incorrect. "To get down to business" does not mean "to sign a contract".
3 to start a business relationship: This is incorrect. "To get down to business" does not mean "to start a business relationship".
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