square away: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal to Neutral, slightly more common in American English
Quick answer
What does “square away” mean?
To finish or resolve something completely.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To finish or resolve something completely; to organize, settle, or tidy.
To complete necessary arrangements or preparations, often in a final or systematic manner. Can also imply putting one's affairs in order.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More widely used and understood in American English. In British English, 'sort out', 'tidy up', or 'organise' are more common equivalents.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests efficiency and completion. Has a slight military/conformity connotation in AmE ('a squared-away soldier').
Frequency
Noticeably more frequent in American texts and speech. British usage often treats it as a colloquialism.
Grammar
How to Use “square away” in a Sentence
[Subject] + square away + [Object] (transitive)[Subject] + get + [Object] + squared away (causative)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “square away” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll square away the travel bookings for the team.
- Can you square away the meeting room before the clients arrive?
American English
- We need to square away the budget before the audit.
- He squared away his debts before moving abroad.
adjective
British English
- Is everything squared away for the festival?
- Give me a call when you're squared away.
American English
- The new recruit is really squared away.
- Make sure your desk is squared away before you leave.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for finalising deals, completing administrative tasks, or preparing for a launch. 'Let's square away the contract by Friday.'
Academic
Rare. Might be used informally regarding thesis submissions or research preparations.
Everyday
Common for household chores, travel preparations, or personal organisation. 'I need to square away the garage this weekend.'
Technical
Occasionally in project management or logistics to denote completion of a phase.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “square away”
- Using it intransitively without an object (Wrong: 'I need to square away.' Correct: 'I need to square away my taxes.')
- Confusing spelling: 'squared away' (adj.) vs. 'square away' (verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally informal to neutral. For very formal writing, consider 'finalise', 'conclude', or 'arrange'.
Yes, commonly. 'All squared away' describes a state of readiness or completion. E.g., 'The preparations are all squared away.'
'Square away' emphasizes finality and neat completion. 'Sort out' focuses more on the process of resolving a problem or organising chaos. They are often interchangeable, but 'square away' suggests the job is finished.
Yes. You can say 'square the issue away' or 'square away the issue'. The object can go in the middle.
To finish or resolve something completely.
Square away: in British English it is pronounced /ˌskweər əˈweɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌskwer əˈweɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All squared away (adj. phrase)”
- “Get your ducks in a row (similar concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a square box. To 'square away' your tasks is to put each one neatly into its own box, closed and done.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS A NEAT GEOMETRIC SHAPE (squared). ORDER IS ALIGNMENT / TIDINESS IS RECTILINEARITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'square away' LEAST appropriate?