What Does “square sth away” Mean?
“Square sth away” means to complete, settle, or organize something properly. It often refers to finishing tasks or resolving issues.
Introduction
The phrase “square sth away” is commonly used in English to describe the act of finishing or arranging something neatly and properly. Understanding the square sth away meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversations or writing. It implies making sure everything is in order, whether it’s paperwork, payments, or plans. This phrasal verb is practical and appears in both formal and informal contexts, making it useful for everyday communication.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: square sth away (square something away)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to complete or settle something properly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Square sth away” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object either between “square” and “away” or after “away.”
- square something away
- square away something
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use square sth away?
Use “square sth away” when you want to express that a task or responsibility has been completed or properly handled. It often relates to tasks like paying bills, organizing documents, or settling accounts. It is typically used with objects such as “accounts,” “details,” “business,” or “paperwork.”
Examples
Before leaving the office, I need to square my reports away.
- She squared away all the invoices before the deadline.
- We need to square away the contract details before signing.
- He quickly squared away the payment with the landlord.
- Make sure to square away your schedule for the meeting.
Here’s how to use square sth away in a sentence: “I squared away the last of my expenses yesterday.”
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “square away” with “throw away” or use it without an object, which is incorrect.
- Incorrect: I need to square away before I leave.
- Correct: I need to square away my tasks before I leave.
- Incorrect: She squared away the papers away.
- Correct: She squared away the papers.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “wrap up,” “settle,” and “sort out.” While “wrap up” focuses on finishing something, “square away” implies organizing or making sure everything is in order. “Settle” usually refers to resolving financial or legal matters, and “sort out” means to arrange or fix problems.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects with “square away,” which help clarify its meaning:
- Accounts: settling financial records
- Details: organizing information
- Business: completing tasks or deals
- Paperwork: finishing documents
- Payments: making sure bills are paid
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of square sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
At work, two colleagues discuss their tasks:
Anna: Have you squared away the client’s contract yet?
Mark: Yes, I finished it this morning and sent it to legal.
Anna: Great, let’s make sure everything else is squared away before the meeting.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “square away”:
- I need to ________ my expenses before the trip.
- She quickly ________ the paperwork so we can leave on time.
- We should ________ the details of the project this week.
FAQ
- What does “square sth away” mean? It means to finish or settle something properly.
- Is “square away” separable? Yes, you can put the object between “square” and “away” or after “away.”
- Can I use “square away” in formal writing? Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
- What are common objects with “square away”? Accounts, details, paperwork, business, payments.
- Is “square away” the same as “wrap up”? Not exactly. “Square away” focuses more on organizing and settling properly.
