the straight and narrow
noun
informal
: the way of living that is honest and morally proper
His wife keeps him on the straight and narrow.
Examples of the straight and narrow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than having to pinpoint particular protections, maybe the cohesive and comprehensive route is to bake into AI a set of ethical and legal values that will keep it on the straight and narrow path, including being on the watch of becoming a useful idiot.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Being on the straight and narrow isn’t lucrative.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The building houses formerly homeless people in recovery from behavioral health disorders — and the victim was living on the straight and narrow, a law enforcement source said.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
My four siblings stuck to the straight and narrow.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
The third, Troy Canty, is said to be living on the straight and narrow, and keeps out of the press.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2026
Would Villa have been able to keep Duran on the straight and narrow and become one of the best strikers in the world, as senior figures believed?
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Breakfast is a more casual affair on the patio, where fresh smoothies, fruit, and granola keep the wellness crowd on the straight and narrow—until traditional Sicilian cakes and pastries such as apricot cake lead them astray.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Critical safeguards — meant to protect taxpayers and keep public officials in the sunshine and on the straight and narrow — have been significantly weakened by the Legislature.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Being on the straight and narrow isn’t lucrative.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The building houses formerly homeless people in recovery from behavioral health disorders — and the victim was living on the straight and narrow, a law enforcement source said.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
My four siblings stuck to the straight and narrow.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
The third, Troy Canty, is said to be living on the straight and narrow, and keeps out of the press.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2026
Would Villa have been able to keep Duran on the straight and narrow and become one of the best strikers in the world, as senior figures believed?
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Breakfast is a more casual affair on the patio, where fresh smoothies, fruit, and granola keep the wellness crowd on the straight and narrow—until traditional Sicilian cakes and pastries such as apricot cake lead them astray.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Critical safeguards — meant to protect taxpayers and keep public officials in the sunshine and on the straight and narrow — have been significantly weakened by the Legislature.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The straight and narrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20straight%20and%20narrow. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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