An honest, direct, and trustworthy person who speaks plainly and acts with integrity.
This American phrase from the late 19th century combines marksmanship imagery with moral character. A 'straight shooter' in firearms terms meant someone whose gun fired accurately without deviation, metaphorically extended to describe someone whose words and actions were equally reliable and true.
The phrase reflects the American frontier's value system where marksmanship was both a survival skill and a measure of character. Poor shooting could mean death, so accuracy became synonymous with reliability and trustworthiness in all aspects of life.
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