straight as a die

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English

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Etymology

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  • Used in the sense of ‘correct,’ attested since April, 1871, originally American English, from the 18th-century expression as true as a die, from the 16th-century expression as smooth as a die, referring to the osseous substance that dice were formerly created with.[1]
  • Possibly connected with, or confused with, the metal-cutting tool called a die.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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straight as a die (not comparable)

  1. (simile) Completely or totally straight.

References

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  1. ^ Gary Martin (1997–) “Straight as a die”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.