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Glite Dictionary
to square one's shoulders

to square one's shoulders

3 6.7
To stand or sit with shoulders pulled back to show confidence before something difficult
  • idiom
translation icon : enderezar los hombros
  • Despite feeling nervous, she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, determined to address the crowd.
  • a deep breath, squared my shoulders
  • a deep breath, squared my shoulders
  • squared her shoulders and walked

Examples

  • Pulling herself together, Diana squared her shoulders and sat up straight, ready to face her interview.

  • When she reached her father's house, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and knocked.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Pulling herself together, Diana sat up straight and squared her shoulders.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • At her dismissal, he squared his shoulders and left to tell the others.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and headed back to Ellis Avenue and my car.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The shepherd squared his shoulders under the fleece he wore for warmth.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Finally, I squared my shoulders and went over to the Prairie Shores Hotel.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Then Willa Optegard squared her shoulders and faced Clara.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Marcia arched her chin, squared her shoulders, and the next day confronted them with Mr. Dett.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Before making his speech, the politician squared his shoulders, projecting confidence to the audience.

Antonyms

to cower
41 6.1

To bend down or move back because you are afraid

to slouch
22 4.6

To sit, stand, or walk with the shoulders and head bent forward in a lazy way

How Confident

to square one's shoulders
3 6.7
to straighten
114 2.5
to stand
∞ 1.0
to sit up
126 1.0

Surface Forms

square one's shoulders infinitive
squared one's shoulders past
squared one's shoulders past participle
squaring one's shoulders present participle
squares one's shoulders third person singular

Morphology

square + one + shoulder

The verb 'square' combined with 'one's shoulders' transparently conveys a physical action of setting or aligning the shoulders, so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer a posture. However, the extended meaning of preparing oneself or signaling confidence/readiness is a metaphorical/pragmatic inference that is not fully predictable from the parts, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

Square one's shoulders may come from the simple act of pulling your shoulders back so your upper body looks straight and square, like a strong box. That's why the phrase now means 'to show confidence' or 'to get ready to face something difficult'.