straight up

See also: straight-up

English

A martini served straight up

Etymology

From Middle English streight up (“straight, erect, not curved or crooked, direct, honest”), equivalent to straight +‎ up.

Adverb

straight up (not comparable)

1. Truthfully; honestly.
2. Unambiguously; bluntly; plainly and directly.

   She told me straight up that she didn't want to go, then surprised me by coming.

   She straight up hates him.

   • 2008 March 25, La Jill Hunt, No More Drama, Kensington Books, →ISBN, page 108:

     "You lied. Straight up lied to me to my face. I thought we were better than that, Nickey. I asked you if you were sleeping with him, if you two were serious. You said no."

   • 2020 November 24, Eileen Aiyana Taylor, The Vampire Peasant: A Sinister Heart Novel, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:

     "It took a while though," he lied straight up to his brother. I knew damn well that if he could read minds, then his brother could too, but I guessed he wouldn't have wanted to.

3. (slang, modifying an adjective) To the utmost degree; really.

   Wow, this food is straight up delicious.

4. Chilled (stirred or shaken over ice) and served in a cocktail glass, with no ice. (of an alcoholic drink)

   Gimme a margarita, straight up.

Usage notes

• There is significant confusion in the use of straight up and other terms in common bartending use; see the usage note for neat

Synonyms

• (truthfully): See also Thesaurus:honestly
• (alcoholic drink): up

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "alcoholic drink"): on the rocks

Coordinate terms

• (alcoholic drink): neat

Adjective

straight up (not comparable)

1. open, frank
   • 1984, Joe Biden, “Women in Development: Looking to the Future”, in parliamentary debates (United States Senate):

     I support what you are attempting to do, but quite frankly, I think we should be straight up about what some of the consequences are.

2. Alternative form of straight-up