strait-laced

/ˌstreɪt ˈleɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌstreɪt ˈleɪst/ (ame, ipa)

strait-laced — adjective

1. believing that people should follow rigid rules about correct behaviour, and eas

1.形容詞C1
釋義

believing that people should follow rigid rules about correct behaviour, and easily shocked by anything seen as improper, especially around sex

例句

Emma's strait-laced grandmother refused to let anyone dance at the family wedding.

attributive: strait-laced + person (noun)

The new headmaster was so strait-laced that he banned holding hands in the school corridor.

predicative: so strait-laced that + result clause

同義詞
  • prudish

    stronger; focuses specifically on being easily shocked by sex

  • puritanical

    suggests harsh self-denial and disapproval of any pleasure

  • prim

    milder; stresses very formal, correct manners rather than morals

反義詞
  • broad-minded

    willing to accept behaviour and ideas different from one's own

  • permissive

    allowing freedom, especially in moral or sexual matters

用法筆記

Almost always describes a person, family, or community judged as too rigid about morals; carries a mildly critical tone, so it is rarely a compliment.

常見錯誤

❌She is a straight-laced teacher.
✅She is a strait-laced teacher.
💡the first part is 'strait' (meaning tight or narrow), not the word 'straight'.
❌The contract was strait-laced and detailed.
✅The contract was strict and detailed.
💡strait-laced describes attitudes to behaviour, not documents or rules on paper.