square off

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to assume a posture of offence or defence, as in boxing

Idioms and Phrases

Take a fighting stance, prepare to fight, as in As they squared off, the teacher came out and stopped them, or The ambassador said the two countries were squaring off. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

Three weeks later, Ohtani is set to square off against the Phillies again, in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night.

From Los Angeles Times

Against this enclave’s polished stone walls and bannisters, Lee looks every ragged inch of the tawdry menace the politicians and businessmen he squares off against expect him to be.

From Salon

A couple of former University of Oregon quarterbacks square off Sunday in a pivotal AFC West matchup.

From Los Angeles Times

Chakwera and Mutharika will square off against each other at the polls for the fourth time - though the third time ended up not counting.

From BBC

Hundreds of protesters converged at the greenhouse site and squared off with immigration agents, who fired at them using less-than-lethal force.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allow 
• challenge 
• confront 
• deal with 
• encounter 
• endure 
• experience 
• fight 
• meet 
• oppose 
• risk 
• run into 
• suffer 
• take