fair and square

Idioms  

1. 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]

---

Example Sentences

Landau says he bought the Courbet fair and square last year last year from a reputable New York dealer, whose lawyer says she was legally cleared to resell the work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

That way, you can help ensure that your assets are split fair and square.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

Taking to Instagram to rubbish all the “crackpot theories”, Te Hiiritanga Wepiha - a Kiwi judge on the Oceania qualifying panel - said Raygun won fair and square.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2024

Mr. Judge himself also expressed interest in obtaining his record-breaking ball, but he acknowledged that Mr. Youmans caught it fair and square.

From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2022

But Papa had bought it fair and square.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz