[General] straighten up/ straighten out/ put smth. in order

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vil

Key Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
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Student or Learner
Native Language
Bulgarian
Home Country
Bulgaria
Current Location
Bulgaria
Dear teachers,

Would you be so kind to tell me your opinion concerning the following sentences?

So far things haven’t straightened up though we expected them to so eagerly.

Mrs. Johnson straightened up the house before company came.

He tried unsuccessfully to straighten his extravagant tie

straighten up = put in order, make neat

I hope things will straighten out.

I'd like to see world affairs straighten out.

We have to put our own house in order.

I happened to straighten out this tangle.

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V
 

riquecohen

VIP Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
Dear teachers,

Would you be so kind to tell me your opinion concerning the following sentences?

So far things haven’t straightened up though we expected them to so eagerly. I would use straighten out here.

Mrs. Johnson straightened up the house before company came.

He tried unsuccessfully to straighten his extravagant tie (or straighten out.)

straighten up = put in order, make neat

I hope things will straighten out.

I'd like to see world affairs straighten out.

We have to put our own house in order.

I happened to straighten out this tangle.

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V
Your sentences are correct, except for the first one.
Straighten up, as it applies to behavior, means in AmE, "to behave well after behaving badly." (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) "He straightened up after he was punished by his father."
 
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