/'streɪtn; `stretn/
v
1 [I, Ip, Tn, Tn.p] ~ (sth) (up/out) (cause sth to) become straight （使某物）变直
*The road straightens (out) after a series of bends. 这条路经过几个转弯之後就直了.
* straighten one's tie, skirt 把领带、裙子弄平整
* Straighten your back (up)! 把背挺直!
2 (phr v) straighten sth out settle or resolve sth; remove difficulties from sth 解决某事物; 排除某事物存在的困难
*Let's try to straighten out this confusion. 咱们努力收拾这个混乱的局面吧. straighten sb out (infml 口) remove the doubt or ignorance in sb's mind 使某人消除疑虑; 给某人解释清楚
*You're clearly rather muddled about office procedures but I'll soon straighten you out. 你显然不大明白办事的手续, 我很快就给你解释清楚. straighten (oneself) up make one's body upright 把身子挺直.

v
[I and T]alsostraighten out
to become straight, or to make something straight
　Can you straighten your leg?
[I]alsostraighten up
to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down
[T]alsostraighten up
to make something tidy
　Mum told me to straighten my room.
straighten outphr v
straighten sth⇔out
to deal with problems or a confused situation and make it better, especially by organizing things
= sort out
　There are several financial problems that need to be straightened out quickly.
to become straight, or to make something straight
　The path soon bends to the right then straightens out.
straighten sth⇔out
　She straightened out her legs.
to improve your bad behaviour or deal with personal problems, or to help someone do this
　He straightened out when he joined the army.
straighten sb⇔out
　Her parents changed her school, hoping it would straighten her out.
straighten upphr v
to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down
　He remained bent over for several seconds before slowly straightening up.
straighten sth⇔up
to make something tidy
AmE to begin to behave well after behaving badly
　You'd better straighten up, young lady!