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square up

B2 informal inseparable both
In simple words

To get ready to fight someone, or to pay money you owe

Literal meaning: To square your shoulders and stand upright, ready to face opposition — a posture associated with readiness and honesty

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To adopt a confrontational physical stance, ready to fight

"The younger boy squared up to the bully, refusing to back down despite being smaller."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To pay money that you owe someone; to settle a bill or debt

"Let me square up with you for last night's dinner — how much do I owe?"

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To confront a problem, challenge, or difficult situation with courage

"Eventually she had to square up to the reality that the business was failing."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Has two main senses that are quite different: the financial sense ('let me square up with you') and the confrontational sense ('he squared up to the bully'). The financial sense is very common in casual British and American speech. The confrontational sense has a slightly old-fashioned or literary flavour.

Commonly used with

bill debt bully challenge opponent problem

Forms

Base
square up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
squares up
he/she/it
Past simple
squared up
yesterday
Past participle
squared up
have + pp
-ing form
squaring up
continuous

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Synonyms

settle up pay up confront face up to stand up to square off

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