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

Matheus Nunes is a midfielder playing at right-back and though City managed to paper over it during the group stages, the square peg in a round hole was glaringly obvious once up against decent opposition.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025

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

Long: If it ever feels too much like work — like I’m trying to shove a square peg in a round hole — I’ll just be like, next.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2022

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 Henney, Nella