Square accounts
Meaning
To settle all debts, obligations, or disagreements completely, leaving nothing outstanding.
Origin
The core of this phrase lies in the word "square," which for centuries has been synonymous with fairness, honesty, and balance. Think of a carpenter's square, ensuring precise right angles—no crookedness, no unevenness. By the 18th century, this sense of exactness was applied directly to financial dealings. "To square accounts" meant to make everything perfectly balanced, to reconcile all debts and payments so that no party owed or was owed anything, leaving the ledger as neat and true as a perfectly cut piece of timber. It wasn't just about paying up, but about reaching an undeniable, impartial equilibrium, leaving no room for dispute.
Examples
- After a long negotiation, the business partners were finally able to square accounts and divide the remaining assets fairly.
- Before moving to a new city, she made sure to square accounts with all her creditors and friends, ensuring no one was left in the lurch.