straight and narrow


noun

the way of virtuous or proper conduct: After his release from prison, he resolved to follow the straight and narrow.

Origin of straight and narrow

First recorded in 1945–50

Example sentences from the Web for straight and narrow

  • So Tutt was compelled to walk the straight-and-narrow path whether he liked it or not.

    Tutt and Mr. Tutt |Arthur Train

British Dictionary definitions for straight and narrow

straight and narrow

noun

informal the proper, honest, and moral path of behaviour

Word Origin for straight and narrow

perhaps an alteration of strait and narrow, an allusion to Matthew 7:14: ``strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life''