🎯 Straight Shooter, A
Definition
A straight shooter, a - An honest person. This slangy Americanism, dating from the second half of the 1900s, likens honest speech to the direct path of a bullet or arrow.
📚 Historical Use
G. M. Brown used it in Time to Keep (1969):
“‘He’s the decentest skipper ever I sailed with . . . Strict but fair . . .’—‘A straight shooter.’ ”
🎩 Related Terms
- Honest Abe
- Truth Teller
- Down-to-earth
- Frank
- Upright
🏷 Synonyms
- Forthright
- Transparent
- Sincere
- Candid
- Blunt
- Plainspoken
🌪 Antonyms
- Dishonest
- Deceitful
- Crooked
- Untrustworthy
- Crafty
🤣 Humor-Filled Quotes
“The shortest distance between two people is a straight line… unless one of them is drunk.” — Straight-Shooting Sally
📖 Related Literature and Media
- Literature: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 🦅 - Atticus Finch embodies the term “straight shooter.”
- Songs: “Give It to Me Straight” by Billy Joel 🎶 - A call for honesty in a relationship.
- Movies: “Honest Thief” 🎬 - A fascinating story that revolves around a principled criminal trying to straighten things out.
- Poetry: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost 🌳 - Embraces the idea of straight, honest paths in life’s journey.
🏞 Proverbs
“Honesty is the best policy.”
“The truth shall set you free.”
🎨 Craft Your Own Saying
“A straight shooter knows that a curved truth has no bullseye.”
### Which is a synonym for "a straight shooter"?
- [x] Honest Abe
- [ ] Slick Willie
- [ ] Smooth Talker
- [ ] Bamboozler
> **Explanation:** Honest Abe, a nickname for Abraham Lincoln, is often associated with being honest and forthright, much like a straight shooter.
### What does "a straight shooter" mean?
- [ ] Someone who always carries a gun
- [ ] A person who likes sports
- [x] An honest person
- [ ] A perfectionist in archery
> **Explanation:** "A straight shooter" is an idiom indicating an honest individual, not a literal marksman.
### True or False: A straight shooter can also be manipulative.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** A straight shooter is known for their honesty, the opposite of manipulative behavior.
### Which of these expressions relates to honesty?
- [x] Call a spade a spade
- [ ] Pull the wool over one's eyes
- [ ] Beating around the bush
- [ ] Leading someone up the garden path
> **Explanation:** "Call a spade a spade" signifies being straightforward and truthful, like a straight shooter.
### Which phrase could describe the opposite of "a straight shooter"?
- [ ] Salt of the earth
- [x] Crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
- [ ] On the level
- [ ] Clear as crystal
> **Explanation:** "Crooked as a barrel of fish hooks" describes someone deceitful and untrustworthy, quite the opposite of a straight shooter.
### True or False: A straight shooter might say what they think even if it's not what you want to hear.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Straight shooters are known for their candidness, even if the truth is uncomfortable.
### Which phrase means to speak bluntly and honestly?
- [x] Telling it like it is
- [ ] Pulling punches
- [ ] Beating around the bush
- [ ] Sugarcoating the truth
> **Explanation:** "Telling it like it is" aligns with the honest, straightforward nature of a straight shooter.
### What is a common characteristic of a straight shooter?
- [ ] Deceptive
- [ ] Evasive
- [x] Forthright
- [ ] Cunning
> **Explanation:** Straight shooters are forthright and direct in their dealings and expressions.
### Which idiom means "an honest person"?
- [x] Straight shooter
- [ ] Hot air balloon
- [ ] Pig in a poke
- [ ] Blind as a bat
> **Explanation:** "Straight shooter" is an idiom that means an honest person.
### Another term for "an honest and dependable person" is:
- [x] Salt of the earth
- [ ] Shady character
- [ ] Loose cannon
- [ ] Wild card
> **Explanation:** "Salt of the earth" describes someone who is dependable and honest, much like a straight shooter.
That wraps up our target-hitting exploration into the world of straight shooters. Always aim for honesty, it might miss some marks, but it never loses respect.
Until our next etymological adventure,
G. M. Truthynoos
