# straighten up and fly right

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/straighten-up-and-fly-right
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To start behaving properly; get one's act together.

## Examples

- You need to straighten up and fly right.
- The manager told the employee to straighten up and fly right if he wanted to keep his job.
- After years of reckless choices, he finally decided to straighten up and fly right to earn back his family's trust.

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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.