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Synonyms

square off

British  

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
square off Idioms  

  1. 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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Sunday, exactly 46 years since the most stunning upset in the history of Olympic hockey, the U.S. and Canada will square off in a heavyweight showdown for global hockey supremacy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans squared off with police outside the event.

From Barron's

Spear is constantly squaring off with overwhelming forces.

From Salon

He and George glowered at each other, their breaths coming out hot and fast from their noses like two polar bears squaring off in a fight.

From Literature

When Indiana and Miami square off with the national championship on the line next Monday, it will mark a season finale unlike any the sport has witnessed in recent memory.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.