fair and square
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fair and square
Completely fair(ly); without any unfair methods. No, I won that round fair and square—no rematch! Stu's spreading these lies about me because he knows he can't beat me fair and square! Don't be such a sore loser, Jim. I know you pride yourself on your racquetball skills, but I beat you fair and square.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
fair and square
Just and honest, as in He won the race fair and square. This redundant expression- fair and square mean essentially the same thing-probably owes its long life to its rhyme. [Early 1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fair and square
If someone wins a competition or does something fair and square, they do it without cheating or lying. I was beaten fair and square. My father bought them fair and square fifty years ago. We've still got the receipts.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
fair and square
1 with absolute accuracy. 2 honestly and straight-forwardly.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
fair and ˈsquare
(also fairly and ˈsquarely)1 completely and fully: They were the better team and they beat us fair and square.
2 directly and with force: I hit him fair and square on the chin.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
fair and square
Just and honest.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fair and square
Just and unequivocal. This expression, recorded since the early seventeenth century, owes its appeal to its rhyme and has survived despite its tautology (“square” here means the same as “fair,” surviving in such phrases as “a square deal”). “You are fair and square in all your dealings,” wrote William Wycherley (The Gentleman Dancing Master, 1673).
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer