What are the definitions of “square off against”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Confront someone or prepare to fight them.
They SQUARED OFF AGAINST the police when they arrived.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “square off against”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb square off against is to confront someone or prepare to fight them. It is often used to describe a situation where two people or groups are getting ready to compete or argue.
What are the different verb forms of “square off against”?
| Root Verb | square off against |
| Third Person Singular Present | squares off against |
| Present Participle | squaring off against |
| Simple Past | squared off against |
| Past Participle | squared off against |
Example
The two teams squared off against each other in the championship game.
Example
He squares off against his opponent in the boxing ring.
Example
The two politicians are squaring off against each other in a heated debate.
Example
The rival gangs squared off against each other in a turf war.
Example
The two companies had squared off against each other in a legal battle.
What kind of phrasal verb is “square off against”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“square off against” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The protesters squared off against the police.
Example
The two chess players squared off against each other.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“square off against” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The protesters squared off against the police.
Example
The two chess players squared off against each other.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “square off against”?
Square up
To confront someone or prepare to fight them, similar to *square off against*.
Example
He squared up to his opponent, ready for the fight.
Good things to know
Does “square off against” have an informal or formal tone?
Square off against is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, such as news articles or reports, depending on the context. However, in very formal writing or speech, it might be more appropriate to use synonyms like 'confront' or 'face off against'.
