Literal translation
to be as straight as a mast
Meaning
to stand bolt upright, stiff as a post
Explanation
This phrase means 'to stand very straight and stiff' and, by extension, 'to have a haughty air'. The literal image compares the body to a mast or a pole, the word used here naming this kind of upright, rigid object, notably used in sailing or for a greasy pole climbing contest. This extreme straightness, seemingly positive since it suggests fine bearing, tips over into a slightly critical sense when applied to a person: bodily stiffness becomes a sign of moral stiffness, of an affected distance, of a refusal to relax or appear approachable. The expression thus belongs to a very productive family of bodily images in Provençal that consistently link physical straightness to stiffness of character. The register stays familiar, most often used to describe, with a touch of mockery, a person whose impeccable bearing borders on arrogance or a lack of ease in social dealings.