square accounts
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square accounts
1. To pay or receive money owed. The phrase can be used by the debtor or the creditor. I need to square accounts with Dean now, before I end up owing him even more money! Thanks for squaring accounts with me, I really needed the money this month.
2. To avenge a misdeed. Typically followed by "with (someone)." Now that she thinks I started that rumor about her, I'm worried about how she is going to try to square accounts with me. Oh, I'll use my fists to square accounts with him after school!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.