[square peg in a round hole]{n.}, {informal} A person who does notfit into a job or position; someone who does not belong where he is. •/Arthuris a square peg in a round hole when he is playing ball./ •/George likes towork with his hands. When it comes to books, he’s a square peg in a roundhole./ — Sometimes used in a short form, [square peg].

[square shooter] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.

[square up]{v. phr.} To liquidate debts and other obligations. •/Iwant to square up my medical bills before I accept my new teaching assignmentin Africa./

[squeak] See: PIP-SQUEAK.

[squeak by]{v. phr.} 1. To barely succeed. •/He was so poorlyprepared for his bar exam that he barely squeaked by./ 2. To clear withdifficulty. •/The entrance to the corridor in the old Italian castle was sonarrow that I barely managed to squeak by it./

[squeak through]{v.}, {informal} To be successful but almost fail;win by a small score. •/Susan squeaked through the history examination./•/The football team squeaked through 7-6./ Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’STEETH.

[squeeze out of]{v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order toobtain what one desires. •/The police were interrogating the suspect tosqueeze information out of him./

[stab in the back(1)]{v. phr.}, {slang} To say or do somethingunfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). •/Owen stabbed hisfriend Max in the back by telling lies about him./

[stab in the back(2)]{n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurtsa friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend.•/John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store./•/My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hookywhen I was home sick./

[stab in the dark]{n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at somethingwithout previous experience or knowledge of the subject. •/"You’re asking mewho could have hidden grandpa’s will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, butlet me make a stab in the dark — I think my sister Hermione has it."/

[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE’S STACK.

[stack the cards]{v. phr.} 1. To arrange cards secretly anddishonestly for the purpose of cheating. •/The gambler had stacked the cardsagainst Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against a person; havethings so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage; make sure inan unfair way that things will happen. — Usually used in the passive with "inone’s favor" or "against one." •/A tall basketball player has the cardsstacked in his favor./ •/The cards are stacked against a poor boy who wantsto go to college./

[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE STAGE, SETTHE STAGE.

[stage fright]{n. phr.} The fear one feels before appearing in frontof an audience. •/Many famous actors and actresses admit that they often havestage fright before the curtain goes up./

[stagestruck]{adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress; enamoredof the acting profession. •/Milly is so stagestruck that she waits foractresses at the stage door after each performance to get their signatures./

[stage whisper]{n. phr.} A loud whisper intended to reach other earsthan those of the person(s) addressed. •/Some jokes should be told in a stagewhisper./

[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.

[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.

[stake a claim]{v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by drivingstakes to show boundaries. •/The gold hunters staked claims in the West./2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your own by some sign. Usuallyused with "on". •/George staked a claim on Dianne by giving her his classring./

[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.

[stamping ground]{n.}, {informal} A place where a person spendsmuch of his time. •/Pete’s soda fountain is an afterschool stampingground./ •/When John returned to his hometown many years later, he visitedall of his old stamping grounds./

[stamp out]{v.} To destroy completely and make disappear. •/In thelast few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using vaccine./ •/Thepolice and judges are trying to stamp out crime./ Compare: WIPE OUT.

[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL, LEG TOSTAND ON.

[stand a chance] or [stand a show] {n. phr.} To have a possibilityor opportunity; be likely to do or get something. •/Fred doesn’t stand achance of being elected./ •/We stand a good chance of seeing Mary at theparty./

[standard time] also [slow time] {n.} Clock time that is set by lawor agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the UnitedStates: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is an hour slowerthan the time used in the summer. — Abbreviation ST. •/When we go to bedSaturday night, we will set our clocks back an hour, because Sunday we will beon standard time again./ •/Next week it will get dark an hour earlier,because we will be on standard time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

[stand by]{v.} 1. To be close beside or near. •/Mary could not tellJane the secret with her little brother standing by./ •/Would you juststand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2. To be near,waiting to do something when needed. •/The policeman in the patrol carradioed the station about the robbery, and then stood by for orders./ •/Leestood by with a fire extinguisher while the trash was burning./ 3. To followor keep (one’s promise). •/He is a boy who always stands by his promises./4. To be loyal to; support; help. •/When three big boys attacked Bill, Edstood by him./ •/Some people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joestood by him./ Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.

[stand by one’s guns] See: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.

[stand for]{v.} 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. •/Theletters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of America."/ •/The written sign"=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ •/Our flag stands forour country./ •/The owl stands for wisdom./ 2. To speak in favor ofsomething, or show that you support it. •/The new President stood for honestgovernment./ •/John always stands for what is right./ 3. {ChieflyBritish} To try to be elected for. •/Three men from London are standing forparliament./ •/The governor did not stand for reelection./ 4.{informal} To allow to happen or to be done; permit. — Usually used in thenegative, •/The teacher will not stand for fooling in the classroom./Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.

[stand in awe of]{v. phr.} To look upon with wonder; feel veryrespectful to. •/Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ •/Thesoldier stood in awe to his officers./

[stand in for]{v. phr.} To substitute for someone. •/The famousbrain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in for himduring the operation./

[stand in one’s way] See: IN ONE’S WAY.

[stand in with]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be liked by or friendlywith. — Usually used with "well". •/John stands in well with the teacher./

[stand off]{v.} 1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. •/At parties,Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is shy and standsoff./ 2. To keep (someone or something) from coming near or winning. •/Thesoldiers defending the fort stood off a large band of Indians./ •/The otherschools wanted to beat our team and win the championship, but our boys stoodthem all off./ Contrast: GIVE GROUND.