straightdar

English

Etymology

From straight +‎ -dar, after the pattern of gaydar.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

straightdar (uncountable)

1. (slang) The ability to detect whether or not a person is heterosexual by observing that person.
   • 1992 July 1, Elaine Richards, “Re: Another Project for Heterosexuals”, in soc.motss‎^[1] (Usenet):

     The Women's Motorcycle Contingent looked very leathergay, but my "straightdar" went off at a few of the women.

   • 1997 May 16, Daermonestroer Dragon [username], “Re: Pedophiles (Was: How can I find shoe fetish dragons?)”, in rec.games.computer.ultima-dragons‎^[2] (Usenet):

     <G> It is 'gaydar' -- and mine has never been wrong so far... My 'straightdar' HAS been wrong once -- I mistook a lesbian for a straight girl (we became best of friends after that).

   • 2008, Robin Sawyer, Sexpertise: Real Answers to Real Questions About Sex, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, →ISBN, page 177:

     Gay or straight, we've all made incorrect assumptions about someone's sexual orientation, so the likelihood of “gaydar” or even “straightdar” as a meaningful idea is unlikely.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:straightdar.