square peg in a round hole

Idioms  

1. Also, round peg in a square hole. A misfit, especially a person unsuited for a position or activity. For example, Ruth doesn't have the finesse for this job; she's a round peg in a square hole. This idiom, with its graphic image of something that cannot fit, dates from about 1800.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

square peg in a round hole

In his first campaign at Anfield, Wirtz too often appeared a square peg in a round hole, playing in behind the strikers as well on the flanks, but never flourishing.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

I don’t know exactly what that might look like, but it does feel like a little bit of a square peg in a round hole the way we’re trying to deal with it right now.

From Slate ● Mar. 11, 2024

“I keep coming back to this fear that we’re trying to put a square peg in a round hole here.”

From Washington Times ● Apr. 19, 2023

It was a square peg in a round hole for weeks and resulted in ugly losses at Alabama and LSU.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2021

It may be because of business depression or it may be because the man is a square peg in a round hole.

From The Book of Business Etiquette by Nella Henney