the.com/straight shooter
Says the thing everyone else is busy phrasing carefully.
means Someone who tells you the honest truth directly, without spin, flattery, or evasion.
from Straight has meant 'honest, direct' since Middle English (contrasted with 'crooked' dealings), and 'shooter' evokes the frontier image of someone whose aim—literal or verbal—doesn't curve or deceive. The compound rose in American English alongside other marksmanship metaphors like 'straight from the shoulder' and 'straight to the point,' all trading on the idea that a true shot travels in a direct line, same as a true word.
- origin
- old west slang for accurate marksmen
- side effect
- fewer friends, better decisions
- workplace tell
- gives feedback nobody asked for
- not to confuse with
- just being blunt for fun