square away

British  

verb

1. to set the sails of (a square-rigger) at right angles to the keel

2. (tr) to make neat and tidy

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square away Idioms  

1. Put in order; also, get ready for. For example, Once we've got the files squared away, we can decide on next year's repertory, or She had to square away the house before leaving town. This expression uses square in the sense of “arrange in accordance with some principle,” indirectly alluding to the geometric square. [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

“Leadership roles usually create fiduciary duties and reputational alignment that are hard to square away with claims of full research independence.”

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

“It’s not something I can square away in my soul fully.”

From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2022

Many, fearful that their marital status is in danger, are moving now to square away potential medical, parental and estate issues.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2022

Before the pandemic, she liked to be in her classroom by 6 a.m. to square away her teaching prep and lesson planning.

From New York Times • May 1, 2020

He didn’t want me to put the Snickers square away.

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg