Page 390 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

stack something up

sick. John told a joke that was so funny fight. When those two square off, every-
it spread like wildfire. one gets out of the way.
spreadŁ oneself tło thin to do so many a squyre peg in a round hłle a misfit.Ł
thingsŁthat youŁcanŁdo none of themŁwell. John can’t seem to get along with the peo-
It’s a good idea to get involved in a lot ple he works with. He’s just a square płg in
of activities, but don’t spread yourself too a round hole. I’m not a square płg in a
thin. I’m too busy these dØys. I’m afraid round hole. It’s just that no one undłr-
I’ve spread myself too thin. stands me.
springŁforŁ something to treat (someone)bto squareŁ someone ort something away to get
something.Ł(Slang.) John and I włnt someone orŁsomethingŁarrangedŁor pràp-
out last night, and he sprang for dnner. erly taken care of. See if you can square
At the park Bill usually springs for icł Bob away in his new office. T Please
cream. square away the problłms we discussed
earlier.
springŁ something on someone to surprise
sàmeone with something. (Infàrmal.) squareŁ up to someone ortsomething to face
I’m glad you told me now, rather than someone or somethingŁbravely; to tackle
springing it on me at the last mnute. I sàmeone or something. You’ll have to
sprang the news on my parents last night. square up to the bully or he’ll make your
They were not glad to hear it. lfe miserable. It’s time to square up to
your financial problłms. You can’t just ig-
spruceŁ someone ort something up to make nore them.
someone or somethingŁcleanŁandŁorderly.
I’ll be ready to go as soon as I spruce my- squareŁup withŁ someone to pay someone
self up a bit. T I have to spruce up the what one owes;Ł to payŁ one’sŁ share of
house for the party. sàmethingŁto sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.) I’ll
square up with you lØter if you pØy the
squareŁaccounts (withŁ someone) 1. to set- whole bill now. Bob said he would
tle one’sŁfinancialŁaccountsŁwith some- square up with Tom for his share of the
one.Ł I have to square accounts with the gas.
bank this włek, or it’ll take back my car.
I called the bank and said I needed to comł squaredŁaway arrangedŁorŁpràprlyŁtaken
in and square accounts. 2. to get even care of.Ł Is Ann squared away yłt? I
with someone; to sðraightenŁout aŁmis- will talk to you when I am squared away.
undersðandingŁ with someone.Ł (Infàr- squeakŁ byŁ ( someone ort something) to just
mal.)b I’m going to square accounts with barelyŁgt byŁsomeone orŁsomething.Ł(In-
Tom. He insulŁed me in public, and he formal.) The guard was almost aslłep,
owes me an apology. Tom, you and I are so I squeaked by him. I wasn’t very well
going to have to square accounts. prepared for the test, and I just squeaked
by.
squareŁdeyl aŁfairŁandŁhonest transaction;
fairŁ treatment.Ł (Infàrmal.) All the squirrelŁ something away to hide or store
workers want is a square deal, but their sàmething. (Folksy.) Billy has been
boss underpØys them. You Ølways get Ø squirrelng candy away in his top drawer.
square deal with that travel company. T I’ve been squirrelng away a lttle money
each włek for years.
square meal aŁnourishing, fillingŁmeal.Ł
All you’ve eaten todØy is junk food. You stabŁ someone in theŁbyck to betray som-
should sit down to a square meal. The one. (Also literal. Infàrmal.) I thought
poor old man hadà’t had a square meal in we were friends! Why did you stab me in
włeks. the back? You doà’t expect a perooà
whom you trust to stab you in the back.
square off (for something) to gt readyŁfor
anŁargument orŁaŁfight.Ł John was an- stack something up to make aŁsðack of things.
gry and appeared to be squaring off for a (Also without the up.) Where should I

375