ENGLISH
REFERENCE

square meal

idiom
Meaning

A (nutritionally) complete and satisfying meal, especially one suitable for a person performing physical labour.


Origin

disputed origin

From square (“hearty, vigorous”) + meal;

Examples
SIMPLE

I need a proper square meal after working all day.

CONTEXTUAL

After hiking for six hours, we were all ready for a hot, square meal.

COMPLEX

The charity provides a daily square meal to those who otherwise struggle to find consistent, nutritious food.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    back to square one

    Located back at the start, as after a dead end or failure.

  2. 02

    make a meal of

    To spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants; to make something overly complicated; to make a big thing out of.

  3. 03

    meal ticket

    Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.

  4. 04

    square away

    To finish, complete, tidy or put in order.

  5. 05

    square on

    accurately, correctly.

  6. 06

    square one

    The place where one begins; a lack of progress.

  7. 07

    square peg in a round hole

    Someone or something that does not fit well or at all in a certain setting; a misfit; hence, someone or something that will not succeed in an endeavour, except possibly with much effort and force.

  8. 08

    square shooter

    A person who is fair, trustworthy, or forthright; a person who bargains or transacts business in a fair, honest manner.

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