square

back to square one: seeback.

fair and square: seefair.

get square with pay a creditor.

have square eyes show the effects of habitually watching television to excess.

on the square

1 honest; straightforward.

2 having membership of the Freemasons.

☞ A square, or more fully a set square, is an L-shaped tool for drawing angles, and together with a pair of compasses it forms one of the main symbols of Freemasonry.

❷1997Guardian One non-Masonic officer…claims he was moved sideways… and subsequently he discovered that the corrupt officers and the commander were all 'on the square'.

square accounts with: see settle accounts with ataccount.

square the circle do something that is considered to be impossible.

☞ In its literal sense, square the circle means 'construct a square equal in area to a given circle'. Since this problem is incapable of a purely geometrical solution, the phrase has developed a more general application and is used to refer to an attempt to do something impossible.

a square deal: seedeal.

a square peg in a round hole: seepeg.