straight man
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s the closest O’Hara gets to playing the straight man, if a straight man was a mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
“Yeah, but that doesn’t make sense in this case,” Meyers said, playing the straight man.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025
I put the look on and I was like, "Yes, it's very nice for a straight man, this is the look we should go for."
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2025
But he has grown into his role at “Saturday Night Live,” proving to be an especially strong straight man adept at the comedy of embarrassment.
From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2024
Your father always said so; I say 'said,' for he always said what he thought, and he was a straight man, Arvid, and that—you—are—not!
From The Red Room by Strindberg, August
