Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
straightforward answer

straightforward answer

1 3.1
A clear, simple reply that is honest and easy to understand
  • noun
translation icon : respuesta directa
  • Be completely honest with your child and provide straightforward answers.

It's not really a very straightforward answer to that, really.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The teacher expected a straightforward answer from the students to assess their understanding of the topic.

  • You'll certainly get a more straightforward answer from a priest.

    Academic text (2007)

  • And I wish I had a straightforward answer for you because you just never know.

    Ken McElroy

  • I have never been given a straightforward answer to this question

    Blog text (33)

  • The simple, straightforward answer is that it cannot.

    Academic text (2006)

  • This question is presented to me numerous times a week, and unfortunately, there is not a simple, straightforward answer.

    Blog text (23)

  • This is a fair question, and it deserves a straightforward answer.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Bill, I'm going to ask you a straightforward question, and I'd like to have a straightforward answer.

    Tell Your Children (1938)

  • When asked about the project's outcome, she provided a straightforward answer that clarified all doubts.

  • For effective communication, it helps to give a straightforward answer that directly addresses the question asked.

Antonyms

complicated
876 5.4

Difficult to understand or deal with because it has many connected parts

How Straightforward

unambiguous
15 5.9
straightforward answer
1 3.1
blunt
100 3.8

Surface Forms

straightforward answer singular
straightforward answers plural

Morphology

straightforward + answer

The phrase's meaning ('a simple, direct reply') is directly and transparently built from 'straightforward' (simple, unambiguous) + 'answer' (reply), so the overall sense is predictable from the constituents. This compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically accessible, so an average B1 learner who knows both words will understand the MWE.

Etymology

Straightforward answer comes from the simple image of a road that is straight and goes forward with no turns or problems. So a 'straightforward answer' means a reply that goes directly to the point and is easy to understand.