In bartending, the correct usage of the term straight up refers to a single, unmixed liquor served chilled in a stemmed glass. An unmixed liquor served straight has been shaken or stirred with ice to chill it before serving it without the ice. Liquors or mixed drinks can be served up, meaning that they are served in a stemmed glass. A cocktail glass is the most commonly used stemmed glass in which to serve a drink "up" or "straight-up".
Neat vs. Straight
"Straight" and "straight-up" are often incorrectly used to mean "neat" in the US; refering to a single, unmixed liquor or spirit served at room temperature, without any water, cordial (non-alcoholic or alcoholic), or other mixer. However in the UK and many other countries "straight" actually is the correct term to use to mean the same thing as "neat" in the US, although both terms are widely accepted. Often some qualification of meaning is needed to identify what one actually wants to the person serving.
Examples
It is common for a shot of Tequila to be served "straight" ("neat") in a shot glass. Many cocktails are served chilled in a cocktail glass; "up" (although one doesn't normally need to ask for it "up", but simply by name, e.g. "martini cocktail" or more normally just "martini"). If a martini cocktail were made without bitters and vermouth, i.e. simply gin on it's own in a coctail glass, it would thus have been served "straight-up".
See also
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