# go straight

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/go-straight
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To discontinue engaging in criminal acts; to become a law-abiding person.

## Examples

- He decided to go straight and find a real job.
- After spending time in prison, he promised his family he would go straight and never return to his old life.
- Having spent his youth on the wrong side of the law, he finally chose to go straight, leaving his criminal associates behind to seek a quiet, honest existence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.