down and out, Strait and narrow, the strait gate

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Strait and narrow
Meaning
A conventional and law-abiding course.
此從馬太福音(瑪竇福音 Matthew)演化
The Critical Works of Monsieur Rapin, 1706:

"The soul of the common people seems too straight and narrow to be wrought upon by any Part of Eloquence."

This version of the phrase is old enough and close enough in date to the earliest example of 'strait and narrow' that I can find in print as to match it in status. That example is in A Vindication of the Government in Scotland: During the Reign of King Charles II, 1712:

"Strait and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life."

現在一般字典
strait noun [C usually plural]
a narrow area of sea which connects two larger areas of sea:
the Straits of Gibraltar
straits
plural noun
a difficult and troubled situation, especially because of financial problems:
So many companies are in such dire/difficult straits that their prices have come right down.

strait

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━━ a. 〔古〕 狭い; 厳重な.
the strait gate　【聖】狭き門 ((マタイ7:13)).

13. 你們要從窄門進去，因為寬門和大路導入喪亡； 但有許多的人從那裏進去。
14. 那導入生命的門是多麼窄，路是多麼狹! 找到它的人的確不多。

'Straight' is a much more frequently used word than 'strait' these days and so the most common question about this phrase concerns the spelling - should it be 'strait and narrow' or 'straight and narrow'? Well, that depends on just how pedantic you want to be. The source of the expression is the Bible, specifically Matthew 7:13/14. The King James' Version gives these verses as:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

━━ n. 海峡 ((固有名詞の時は通例pl.で単数扱い)); （普通pl.） 窮乏, 困難 (in (serious) ～s).
strait・en　━━ vt. 窮乏させる ((for, in)); 〔古〕 制限する, 狭くする.
strait・ened　a. 窮乏した.
strait・jacket　━━ n., vt. （狂暴な罪人などに着せる）拘束衣（を着せる）; 〔比喩〕 自由な発達を妨げる（もの）.
strait-laced　━━ a. 〔非難して〕 厳格な.
Straits Settlements　（the ～） （東南アジアの旧英領）海峡植民地 ((Singapore, Malacca, Penang, Labuan, Christmas Island, Cocos Islandsよりなる)).
strait-waistcoat　＝straitjacket.

down and out 

Pronunciation:

ADJECTIVE

1(Of a person) without money, a job, or a place to live; destitute:a novel about being down and out in London

More example sentencesSynonyms

2(Of a boxer) knocked down and unable to continue fighting.

Example sentences

2.1(Of a competitor) facing certain defeat:behind, away from home, and down to 14 men, Kelso ought to have been down and out, but Jeffrey rallied his men

More example sentences

NOUN

(down-and-out)A person without money, a job, or a place to live:a hostel for down-and-outs