ramrod straight
Stiff military posture
Ramrod straight describes posture that is rigidly upright and perfectly vertical, like the metal rod used to load ammunition into old firearms.
The phrase emphasizes stiffness and formality: She sat ramrod straight through the entire interview.
It often suggests military bearing or tense self-control.
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- erectVertical in position
- postureBody position, alignment
- verticalAt right angles groundward
- rigidUnable to bend
stiff · at attention · military bearing · resolute · austere · sergeant-major · drill sergeant · military · dignity · stiff upper lip · old school · unwavering · iron will · inflexibility · unyielding · steadfast · backbone · unbending
- body positionslying down, flat, upright, standing, sitting
- posture expressionsslouch, slump, hunch, stoop, stand tall
- uprightupright, erect, vertical, perpendicular, standing
ramrod, straight, rammed, ramming, rams, rods, rodding, straighter, straightest