square (redirected from squaring away)

(It) don't cut no ice (with someone). and (It) don't cut no squares (with someone).

Rur. (It) doesn't influence me. That excuse don't cut no ice with me. I'm tired of you coming home drunk. Your fancy apologies don't cut no squares.

See also: cut, ice

back to square one

Fig. back to the beginning. (As with a board game.) Negotiations have broken down, and it's back to square one. We lost our appeal of the lower court decision, so back to square one.

See also: back, one

Be there or be square.

Sl. Attend or be at some event or place or be considered uncooperative or not "with it." There's a bunch of people going to be at John's on Saturday. Be there or be square.

call something square

to pronounce a debt or obligation to have been paid, balanced, or ended. Thanks for the hundred bucks. I think we can call it square now.

See also: call

fair and square

completely fair(ly); justly; within the rules. She won the game fair and square. The division of the money should be fair and square.

See also: and, fair

go back to square one

Fig. to return to the starting point. (Alludes to the squares of a board game.) It's back to square one. We have to start over. It looks like it's back to square one for you.

See also: back, one

square (meal)

a good and nutritious meal. (Always with quantifier when square is used without meal.) I need three squares a day—at least. The old beggar looks like he could use a square meal.

square someone away

to get someone or something arranged or properly taken care of. See if you can square Bob away in his new office. When you are squared away, come back and we'll talk.

See also: away

square something off

to make something square; to trim something until it is square. You will have to square this corner off a bit so it will match the part it will be attached to. Please square off this corner.

square something up

to cause something to have right angles. Please square the door frames up better before you nail them in. Can you square up this box a little better?

See also: up

square something with someone

to make certain that something is approved by a particular person. I am sure I can square this matter with Sally. Sam intended to square everything with Henry when he had time.

square accounts (with someone)

1. Lit. to settle one's financial accounts with someone. I have to square accounts with the bank this week, or it'll take back my car. I called the bank and said I needed to come in and square accounts.

2. Fig. to get even with someone; to straighten out a misunderstanding with someone. I'm going to square accounts with Tom. He insulted me in public, and he owes mean apology. Tom, you and I are going to have to square accounts.

See also: account

square deal

a fair and honest transaction; fair treatment. All the workers want is a square deal, but their boss underpays them. You always get a square deal with that travel company.

See also: deal

square off (for something)

to get ready for an argument or a fight. John was angry and appeared to be squaring off for a fight. When those two square off, everyone gets out of the way.

square peg in a round hole

Fig. someone who is uncomfortable or who does not belong in a particular situation. (Also the cliché: trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, trying to combine two things that do not belong or fit together.) I feel like a square peg in a round hole at my office. Everyone else there seems so ambitious, competitive, and dedicated to the work, but I just want to make a living. Trying to teach me math is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I'm convinced my brain is not built right to understand algebra.

See also: hole, peg, round

square up (for fighting)

to get ready for an argument or a fight. John was angry and appeared to be squaring up for a fight. When those two square up, everyone gets out of the way.

See also: up

square up to someone or something

to face someone or something bravely; to tackle someone or something. You'll have to square up to the bully or he'll make your life miserable. It's time to square up to your financial problems. You can't just ignore them.

See also: up

square up with someone

to pay someone what one owes; to pay one's share of something to someone. I'll square up with you later if you pay the whole bill now. Bob said he would square up with Tom for his share of the gas.

See also: up

square with someone 

1. Lit. to settle a disagreement with someone. I will try to square with Fred before the end of the school year. Max refused to square with Lefty and they are still feuding.

2. Fig. to apologize to someone. I will try to square with Harold. I really am sorry, you know. Finally, Mary squared with Alice and they forgave each other.

square with something

Fig. [for a statement] to agree, match, or correspond to something. Your answer doesn't square with mine. The figures I have don't square with those the government has.

squared away

arranged or properly taken care of. Is Ann squared away in her dorm room yet? I will talk to you when I am squared away.

See also: away

three squares (a day)

three nourishing meals a day. (With breakfast, lunch, and dinner considered the usual three meals.) I was glad to get back home to three squares. If I could limit myself to three squares, I could lose some weight.

See also: three

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a square meal

a big meal that provides your body with all the different types of food it needs to stay healthy Most of these supermodels don't look like they've had a square meal in their life. If you're only eating a chocolate bar for lunch you need a good square meal in the evening.

See also: meal

a square peg (in a round hole)

someone whose character makes them completely wrong for the type of work they are doing or for the situation they are in I never did understand what Paddy was doing in accounts - he was a square peg in a round hole.

See also: peg

back to square one

if you are back to square one, you have to start working on a plan from the beginning because your previous attempt failed and the progress you made is now wasted We thought everything was settled, but now they say they're not happy with the deal, so we're back to square one again. If this guy rejects our offer we'll have to go back to square one and start the whole recruitment process again.

See also: back, one

be on the square  (mainly American)

to be completely honest in what you say and do So this guy you're buying the car from - how do you know he's on the square?

fair and square 

1. in an honest way and without any doubt We won the match fair and square.

2. if you hit someone fair and square on a particular part of their body, you hit them hard exactly on that part She hit me fair and square on the nose.

See also: and, fair

square the circle

to find a good solution to a problem when that seems impossible, especially because the people involved have very different needs or opinions about it Few poor countries can afford to look after their works of art properly, but neglect is unwise if you want to attract tourists. Thailand is attempting to square the circle.

See also: circle

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a square peg (in a round hole)

someone who is different from most people of the same age and situation In high school she was defininitely a square peg, but even if they didn't understand her, most kids admired her.

See also: peg

back to square one

returned to the beginning The investigation was back to square one when Mrs. Earle proved she wasn't anywhere near the crime.

Related vocabulary: go back to the drawing board

See also: back, one

fair and square

honestly We played very well and won, fair and square.

See also: and, fair

square your shoulders

to show determination and a lack of fear When the judge asked her if she was guilty or not guilty, she squared her shoulders, looked the judge in the eye, and said, “Not guilty.”

See also: shoulder

square off

to oppose someone directly Two teams of students square off and earn points for answering questions correctly. Candidates are supposed to square off in a debate and focus on the issues.

Etymology: from the meaning in boxing of square off (to take a position that shows you are ready to fight)

square the circle

to solve an unusually difficult problem To get both sides to agree to anything at all meant we had to square the circle.

Related vocabulary: have it both ways

Etymology: from the problem in geometry (a branch of mathematics) of constructing a square that is equal in area to a circle

See also: circle

square with something

to agree with something Tom's explanation does not square with his earlier statement. Her view fails to square with historical reality.

Usage notes: usually used in the negative

squared away

perfectly arranged or organized Just when you think your kids are squared away and you can relax, one of them decides to do something crazy.

See also: away