# square away

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/square-away
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to finish a task completely or organize something so it is ready. You use this when you want to say everything is settled and there are no problems left.

For teachers: to complete, settle, or put something into proper order. Transitive; frequently used in the passive voice to indicate a state of readiness or completion.

## Examples

- We need to square away the budget before the meeting.
- Once we get the paperwork squared away, we can finally start the construction project next week.
- The legal team worked through the night to square away the final details of the merger before the markets opened on Monday.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We squared the project away." but "We squared away the project." — While technically separable, 'square away' is most commonly used as a unit or in the passive; separating it with a long object can sound unnatural to native speakers.

## Usage notes

- often used in the passive form ('to be squared away') to describe a state of being fully prepared.
- Teaching tip: useful for business English contexts; explain the visual metaphor of making something 'square' (neat, aligned, and stable) to help students remember the meaning of orderliness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.