Straight-laced

Characterized by strict observance of moral or ethical standards; rigidly conventional and proper in behavior, manners, and morals.

straight-laced individuals adhere to a strict code of conduct, often avoiding anything considered risqué, unconventional, or against established social norms.

They prioritize decorum, respectability, and self-control. This often extends to their personal lives and relationships, where they may be wary of anything that challenges their established beliefs or comfort zones.

Their adherence to rules can sometimes appear prudish or excessively formal. .

Straight-laced meaning with examples

• My aunt is quite straight-laced; she always wears pearls and a tailored skirt, and she never swears. Dinner at her house is always impeccably formal.
• The movie's straight-laced protagonist struggled to adapt to the unconventional bohemian lifestyle of the artistic community she found herself in.
• Despite being in a creative field, the CEO of the company remained surprisingly straight-laced, often rejecting proposals deemed too outlandish.
• He found his new girlfriend’s straight-laced approach to dating stifling; she adhered to every rule in a relationship guidebook he had never seen.
• Growing up in a straight-laced household, she had to hide her rebellious interests from her parents. Secretly reading sci-fi was thrilling.