fair and squareadv.adj.
/ˌfɛː (ə)n(d) ˈskwɛː/, U.S. /ˈfɛ(ə)r (ə)n ˈskwɛ(ə)r/ A. adv.
1. In a just or honest manner; legitimately; openly, straightforwardly; (also) completely, outright. Cf. square adv. 3a.With quot. 1604 cf. to pitch and pay at pitch v.2 Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [phrase] > fairly
fair and square1604
fair dinkum1879
square dinkum1888
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adverb]
utterly?c1225
entirelya1340
faithlyc1350
without (but) feigningc1380
clearly1389
whollyc1390
unfeigninglyc1400
entirec1430
unfeigneda1469
without coloura1513
honestly1526
singly1526
unfeignedly1526
uncolourably1541
bona fide1542
frankly?1553
sincerely1560
squarely1564
uprightly1565
square1577
single-mindedly1579
undissemblinglyc1585
above board1599
fair and square1604
downright1607
downrightly1632
really1641
uncasuistly1649
honest1654
up tro1654
plain-heartedly1675
unaffectedly1677
straightforwardly1839
wholeheartedly1845
unfallaciously1852
up and down1854
single-heartedly1857
unflatteringly1874
uncynically1895
square on1963
the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [adverb]
strongeOE
fastOE
stably1297
strengthlya1400
unabasedlyc1425
unfaintlyc1425
four-squarec1430
strengthilyc1485
determinedlyc1540
resolutely1549
determinately1556
martyr-like1579
resolvedly1587
strongly1591
undauntedly1598
heart and soul1620
fairly and squarely1628
bently1645
decisively1653
supportinglya1664
setly1673
decidedly1770
martyrly1819
immitigably1824
staunchly1825
unshrinkingly1826
unflinchingly1833
hell-bent1863
square1867
fair and square1870
full-bloodedly1898
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > altogether, entirely, or completely
bedenec1175
all outc1300
downrightc1330
downrightsc1330
at alla1375
whole together1551
in all sorts1559
right out1578
clear1600
neck and heels1647
to rights1663
head over ears1774
neck and crop1791
fair and square1870
in total1965
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > utter > utterly
all outc1300
out and outc1300
at all devicec1385
to devicec1385
right out?1543
up to the chin1546
up to the eyes1607
upsy Friese1609
up to the (or one's) eyebrowsa1627
all hollow1762
(immersed, steeped) to the lipsa1822
all ends up1850
fair and square1870
right spang1884
to the wide1895
a (also one) hundred per cent1911
1604 ‘W. Terilo’ Piece of Friar Bacons Prophesie 331 While faire, and square, and pitch, and pay: The gamster calls fooles holy-day.
1712 J. Arbuthnot Lewis Baboon iv. ii. 7 We'll settle it between Ourselves: Fair and Square.
1790 J. Freeth Polit. Songster (ed. 6) 122 Since kingdom with kingdom seem fond to unite, Fair and square make their terms, and keep all right and tight.
1834 W. J. Neale Will Watch (1835) II. i. 15 Though Sir John and I do own the whole of Dock, yet I like that every thing should go fair and square and independent, as ye call it.
1860 T. Delf Diary of Ex-detective viii. 71 I bought it and paid for it, fair and square, and it's mine.
1870 Field Q. Mag. & Rev. 1 218/2 If they beat us fair and square we will own their superiority.
1900 W. D. Howells Room Forty-five 46 He told us fair and square, when he came, that he had this—habit.
1957 New Yorker 16 Feb. 125 The financial burden ought to be borne fair and square by the home government.
1993 N.Y. Times 21 Nov. i. 44/3 They got their butts whipped fair and square.
2005 B. Katz Elaine's Circle v. 117 Play the game..fair and square. Do your best and never cheat.
2. Directly, squarely; precisely, with absolute accuracy. Cf. fair adv. 7.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in forward direction > directly forwards
forthrighta1000
outrightc1400
foreright1495
straight forth1536
straightforwardsa1555
an-end1601
fair and square1805
straightforward1809
fairly and squarely1827
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in forward direction > head-on
headlingc1384
fair and square1805
head-on1840
full on1883
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > evident certainty > [adverb] > with clear meaning
univocally1593
unequivocally1795
fairly and squarely1827
fair and square1854
unequivocably1917
1805 J. Adams Anal. Horsemanship (new ed.) II. 305 The principal merit or chief art in teaching a horse to leap, consists in placing him fair and square to the bar, [etc.].
1854 Merry's Museum 27 374/2 Please don't attempt to get round the question..by denying the facts, but meet it fair and square on its logical merits.
1878 Pop. Sci. Mar. 571 A..chair, that will stand fair and square, and afford a safe and satisfactory resting-place.
1921 Boys' Life July 29/2 Billy..caught it fair and square with a clean crack that lifted it over Geoffrey's head.
1967 J. B. Keane Lett. of Successful TD ii, in Celebrated Lett. (1996) 22 Razzy met him fair and square in the belly with a grenade.
2007 Opera Now Mar. 49/2 The final songs were magically eerie, low notes hit fair and square.
B. adj.
Honest, just; legitimate; straightforward.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adjective]
aefauldOE
trueOE
true as steela1300
throlya1375
entirec1380
faithfula1382
entirelyc1400
single1519
sincere1533
sincere1539
simple-minded1556
Dunstable?1565
truthful?1567
single-hearted1574
single-minded1577
sound1580
downright1584
unaffected1592
real1597
plain-hearted1601
unartificial1603
free1619
honest1634
fair and square1636
round-dealing1642
wholehearted1657
down flata1663
well-designing1670
heart-whole1684
single-eyed1705
unsanctimoniousa1797
natural1825
bona fide1827
unfallacious1827
jannock1828
forthcoming1835
up and down1836
bonified1840
forthgoing1851
unhypocritical1854
forthright1855
upstanding1863
on the level1872
genuine1890
for real1954
upfront1967
1636 J. Trussell Contin. Coll. Hist. Eng. 154 The Kentish Captaine..himselfe kept the watch, and kept all things faire and square.
1649 T. Carlyle in O. Cromwell Lett. & Speeches II. 405 There will clearly be no living for the Portugal unless he..do that which is fair and square.
1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master Epil. You are fair and square in all your dealings.
1715 Necessity of Well-govern'd Zeal 20 A more fair and square Execution of the Article concerning Dunkirk.
1758 J. Potts Preacher's Plan xii. 249 A Man who is fair and square in his Dealings.
1855 R. Carboni Eureka Stockade 68 It's no more than fair and square now for the boys to shout for you.
1890 Public Opinion 1 Mar. 487/2 She has won in a fair and square fight, and she deserves credit for her pluck.
1910 J. Buchan Prester John xvi. 159 I am going to make you a fair and square business proposition.
1989 E. Hoffman Lost in Transl. (1991) ii. 129 My parents aren't exactly starting out the race even, with the odds fair and square.
2002 P. Deutermann Darkside ix. 257 You can say you were there and that she conducted a fair and square investigation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1604