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Origin: This expression dates from the 1800s, to describe people who just did not fit into situations they were in. They essentially did not have the temperment, skills, or knowledge. Sometimes the words in this expression are switched to 'square peg in a round hole.'
Possibly this predates the 1800s as the expression is used by Zen Master Dogen in "Shobogenzo", his Zen Buddhist Masterpiece entitled "The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Teaching".
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe phrase "Square peg in a round hole" is often misquoted as "a round peg in a square hole". This phrase means that a person feels out of place with their surroundings or those within it. The origin of "a square peg in a round hole" is a proverb that dates back to the 1600s' in England.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt means that something doesn't fit. You can't fit a square peg into a round hole, and this expression means anything else that does not fit together, like one person who is different or does not fit in.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt is usually "square peg in a round hole".
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIf you mean what does the slang mean, it means it does not fit. If you mean it literally, I don't think it's possible.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoUse a hole that is larger than the peg.
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What does the idiom itchy nose mean?
It is not an idiom, it means your nose is itching.
What does the idiom back to square one mean?
It means that that you have to start all over again. Imagain a game of snakes and ladders, you fail, so you go down a snake to square. You have to do it all again. back to square 1
What does idiom mean in poetry?
idiom means expression like a page in a book
What does the idiom badjohn mean?
Simply its mean a bully.
What does idiom mean 'Suits his idiom'?
I think it means that that person agrees with that others persons idiom and that it fit that question that the teacher or whoever asked that question.
What does the idiom ' in the hole ' mean?
to be in dept , to owe money or to lose money
What does the saying 'be there or be square' mean?
don't be a square u know be there It is the 50;s and 60;s version of Nerd. Square coming from square peg in a round hole, in other words it does not fit in.
What does the idiom money burns a hole in my pocket mean?
This isn't an idiom because you can figure out what it means pretty easily. It's an exaggeration - pretending that your money is so eager to leave your pocket that it can burn a hole to get out.
What does the idiom burning a hole in her pocket mean?
This means that she can't wait to spend the money she has.
What does square bridge mauser mean?
Square top vs round
Does the sound come out from tyhe bottom hole in a flute?
If by "bottom hole" you mean the round hole at the end, then no. Most of the sound of a flute comes out near where the mouthpiece is
Does a black hole have another end?
What do you mean with "another end"? A round object has no ends.
What does someone mean if they ask if you are square?
This is, by now, a somewhat old fashioned idiom, but in the 1950's conformists were described as square. A person who always does what society expects him or her to do, could be described as square.
What is the conversion to square feet of 100 round feet?
"Round feet" is not a common unit of measurement; please explain what you mean by "round feet".
What is the square footage of a 27 foot round area?
If you mean a circle then its square footage formula is: pi*radius2
Lock position on camshaft pulley for Skoda octavia?
if you mean locking,as in the fitting of timing belt,it is a round hole,inside elongated hole,nearest the bulkhead
What does the idiom ace in the whole mean?
Nothing. The correct idiom is "ace in the hole," which literally means that you have an ace card (the highest value in the deck) hidden away somewhere so you can win the card game. It's come to mean any situation where you have a hidden advantage or something you can "pull out" to win the situation.
