stray.html - v., n., & adj.
--v.

intr.
1 wander from the right place; become separated from one's companions etc.; go astray.
2 deviate morally.
3 (as strayed adj.) that has gone astray.

--n.

1 a person or thing that has strayed, esp. a domestic animal.
2 (esp. in pl.) electrical phenomena interfering with radio reception.

--adj.

1 strayed or lost.
2 isolated; found or occurring occasionally (a stray customer or two; hit by a stray bullet).
3 Physics wasted or unwanted (eliminate stray magnetic fields).

strayer n. [ME f. AF & OF estrayer (v.), AF strey (n. & adj.) f. OF estrai

(as ASTRAY)]

stray.html - See: GO STRAIGHT, SHOOT STRAIGHT.

stray.html - {n.} A face that is not laughing or smiling. * /Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh, but Joan kept a straight face./ * /It is hard to tell when Jim is teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face./ * /When Bob fell into the water, he looked funny and I could hardly keep a straight face./

stray.html - {slang} Directly from the person or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that cannot be doubted. * /They are going to be married. I got the news straight from the horse's mouth - their minister./ * /John found out about the painting straight from the horse's mouth, from the painter himself./

stray.html - {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an open and honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. * /John asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the shoulder./ * /The candidate for Congress spoke out against his opponent's dishonesty straight from the shoulder./ Contrast: PULL ONE'S PUNCHES.

stray.html - {adv. phr.} At once; immediately. * /After school is over, you come home straight off, and don't waste time./ * /He asked his father for the car, but his father said straight off that he couldn't have it./