Definition and pronunciation
strait-laced /ˌstreɪtˈleɪst/ — adjective: overly proper, strict, or rigid in morals, manners, or behavior, especially about sexuality and social conduct.
Easy explanation
If someone is called strait-laced, it means they are very serious, strict, and often uncomfortable with relaxed behavior or anything considered “improper,” especially related to sex, pleasure, or fun.
Grammatical formation
- Adjective: strait-laced (comparative: more strait-laced; superlative: most strait-laced).
- Common verb use: to be strait-laced, to seem strait-laced, to call someone strait-laced.
- Derived noun: strait-lacedness.
Meanings and nuances
- Moral strictness — someone who avoids anything “immoral,” such as alcohol, sex, or risqué talk.
- Conservative manners — sticking to traditional etiquette and propriety.
- Sexual restraint — used to describe people who are uncomfortable with sexuality or sensual expression.
- Negative connotation — sometimes used mockingly to suggest uptightness or rigidity.
With prepositions and variants
- strait-laced about sex/behavior: “She is strait-laced about dating.”
- strait-laced in manners: “He is strait-laced in public conduct.”
Common collocations
strait-laced family, strait-laced upbringing, strait-laced society, strait-laced attitude, strait-laced values, strait-laced views on sex, strait-laced morality
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “stiff upper lip” (strict restraint)
- “by the book” (rigid following of rules)
- “tight-laced” (archaic, same meaning)
- “buttoned-up” (informally restrained)
Word comparisons
- strait-laced vs straight-laced: Both spellings exist, but “strait-laced” (from “strait” meaning narrow) is historically correct. “Straight-laced” is now common.
- strait-laced vs modest: modest is humble or restrained; strait-laced is stricter and more judgmental.
- strait-laced vs conservative: conservative is broad (political/social); strait-laced is about personal morality.
- strait-laced vs prudish: prudish is overly shocked by sexuality; strait-laced is broader, including manners and lifestyle.
Real-life examples
- “Her strait-laced parents forbade dating before marriage.”
- “The town was strait-laced, with bans on alcohol and dancing.”
- “He seemed strait-laced, but he had a wild side in private.”
- “Victorian society was famously strait-laced.”
- “She grew up in a strait-laced community.”
Sample sentences
- “He was too strait-laced to watch that movie.”
- “She had a strait-laced view of relationships.”
- “His strait-laced manners made him seem old-fashioned.”
- “They mocked their teacher for being strait-laced.”
- “The party was boring because it was full of strait-laced guests.”
- “She wanted to escape her strait-laced upbringing.”
- “The novel challenged the strait-laced values of its time.”
- “He was strait-laced in public but adventurous in private.”
- “The strait-laced community frowned upon dancing.”
- “Her strait-laced attitude toward sexuality kept her distant.”
Synonyms
prudish, puritanical, uptight, rigid, strict, conventional, proper, moralistic, conservative, buttoned-up
Antonyms
liberal, free-spirited, open-minded, permissive, uninhibited, easygoing, relaxed
Related terms
prudery, modesty, morality, repression, inhibition, conservatism, propriety, decency, taboo
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Strait-laced is often linked to sexuality, describing people or societies that are uncomfortable with sexual openness, sensuality, or even casual intimacy. Historically, Victorian England is seen as strait-laced in sexual attitudes.
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