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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

walk a straight line en · VERB

Meanings

  1. To behave in a proper and lawful manner; to obey the rules and expectations of society.
    • What if your mate forgives you and your broken promise? I know we've all heard statements from our mates such as: "Baby, don't worry about it. I forgive you. Let'x move on!” Well, here's the question, should we accept this statement as the truth; or should we keep in the back of our minds that the damage is already done? Here's when you must begin to walk a straight line continuously. 2009, Johnnie Lee Behlin III, Why: A Guideline for Relationships (Ways of Women/Minds of Men), →ISBN:
    • He wanted to do the right thing. He was trying his hardest to walk a straight line and stay out of the game, but nobody was willing to give him a break. 2014, Ashley Jaquavis, The Trophy Wife, →ISBN:
    • He expected a felonious client, rewarded with four and a quarter million instead of jail time, to be grateful and thereafter to walk a straight line. 2012, Dean Koontz, From the Corner of his Eye, →ISBN:
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see walk, straight, line.
    • You've read about this phenomenon, how people who are loast in the woods believe they are walking a straight line sometimes will keep veering off in one direction and eventually walk in a circle that brings them very close to where they started. 2008, David Lozell Martin, Losing Everything, →ISBN, page 10:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
walks a straight line Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
walked a straight line Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
walked a straight line Tense=Past lexicographic
walking a straight line Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic