keep straight

verb

To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized.

“Their names all sounded the same to me at first, and I had trouble keeping straight who was who.”

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Meanings

verbkeep straight (third-person singular simple present keeps straight, present participle keeping straight, simple past and past participle kept straight)

present singular third person keeps straight · participle present keeping straight · participle past kept straight · past kept straight

  1. idiomaticTo avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized.

    Their names all sounded the same to me at first, and I had trouble keeping straight who was who.

Cite this entry
APA

keep straight. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20straight

MLA

“keep straight.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20straight. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keep straight,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20straight.

Source: keep straight on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.