How do you use "Fair and square" in a sentence?

We won fair and square. They beat us fair and square. He earned that promotion fair and square.

Fair and square

Q: What does "Fair and square" mean?

Honestly and according to the rules. Completely fairly, with no cheating or tricks—an emphatic way of saying something was done legitimately.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Honestly and according to the rules.

诚实地、按规则地。

Honestamente y según las reglas.

正々堂々と、ルール通りに。

정정당당하게, 규칙대로.

Completely fairly, with no cheating or tricks—an emphatic way of saying something was done legitimately.

完全公平，没有作弊或诡计——强调某事是合法完成的。

Completamente justo, sin trampas ni trucos—una forma enfática de decir que algo se hizo legítimamente.

完全に公正に、インチキやトリックなしで。何かが正当に行われたことを強調する表現。

완전히 공정하게, 속임수나 꼼수 없이—무언가가 정당하게 이루어졌음을 강조하는 표현.

Literal meaning: Fair and properly aligned

Examples

We won fair and square.
我们光明正大地赢了
Ganamos limpiamente
正々堂々と勝った
정정당당하게 이겼다.
They beat us fair and square.
他们光明正大地打败了我们
Nos ganaron limpiamente
彼らに正々堂々と負けた
그들에게 정정당당하게 졌다.
He earned that promotion fair and square.
他凭真本事获得了晋升
Se ganó ese ascenso a pulso
彼はその昇進を正当に勝ち取った
그는 그 승진을 정정당당하게 따냈다.

Pronunciation

/feə ænd skweə/

Usage Guide

Context: fairness, honesty, competition

Tone: emphatic, honest

✓ Do Say

Won fair and square.
光明正大地赢了
Ganó limpiamente
正々堂々と勝った
정정당당하게 이겼어.
Fair and square.
公平公正
Limpio y justo
公正にやろう
정정당당하게.
Beat them fair and square.
光明正大地打败了他们
Les ganó limpiamente
正々堂々と打ち負かした
정정당당하게 이겼어.

✗ Don't Say

Honestly
Honestly（诚实地）
Honestly（honestamente）
Honestly（正直に）
정직하게
Legitimately
Legitimately（合法地）
Legitimately（legítimamente）
Legitimately（正当に）
합법적으로

Common Mistakes

Very old expression
Emphatic doubling for effect

Origin & History

Possibly from carpentry—'square' meaning true and accurate.

Etymology: English, possibly carpentry origin, 16th century

First recorded: 16th century

Cultural Context

Era: 16th century to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Sports victories; Legal outcomes

Regional notes: Universal English expression.

Variations

Fair and squareWon fair and squareBeat fair and square