fair and square
By the rules
Fair and square means completely honest and aboveboard, with no cheating or trickery involved.
The phrase emphasizes legitimacy—that something was done properly according to the rules: He won the election fair and square.
It often appears defensively, asserting that a victory or outcome was deserved: I beat you fair and square, so stop complaining.
In a truthful manner
- truthfullyWithout deception or lies
- candidlyWithout concealment or evasion
- sincerelyWith genuine feeling
- straightforwardlyIn an uncomplicated way
openly · transparently · aboveboard · legitimately · genuinely · forthrightly · plainly · directly
Achieved a triumph
- earnedGained by effort
- deservedRightfully earned or warranted
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- victoryDefeating an opponent
contest · match · game · race · tournament · outplayed · outperformed · no cheating
Person accepting outcomes cheerfully
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- respectRegard with honor
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
- honorableHaving high moral standards
play by the rules · sportsmanlike · ethical · gentlemanly · good loser · integrity · clean game · sporting
By just claim
- justlyWith fairness applied
- equitablyIn a fair manner
- impartiallyWithout taking sides
- legallyIn lawful manner
lawfully · due process · on the merits · by the book · legitimate · above reproach · unrigged · uncorrupted
honestly
In a truthful manner
- truthfullyWithout deception or lies
- candidlyWithout concealment or evasion
- sincerelyWith genuine feeling
straightforwardly · openly · transparently · aboveboard · legitimately · genuinely · forthrightly · plainly · directly · uprightly
won
Achieved a triumph
victory · contest · match · game · race · tournament · outplayed · outperformed · no cheating · level playing field
good sport
Person accepting outcomes cheerfully
honorable · play by the rules · sportsmanlike · ethical · gentlemanly · good loser · integrity · clean game · sporting · decent
rightfully
By just claim
- justlyWith fairness applied
- equitablyIn a fair manner
- impartiallyWithout taking sides
legally · lawfully · due process · on the merits · by the book · legitimate · above reproach · unrigged · uncorrupted
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- fairnessjustice, impartiality, equity, equal opportunity, equal treatment
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- phrases about integritykeep your word, man of his word, straight shooter, above board, on the level
- pairspair, pairs, two, duo, duos
- sportsmanshipsportsmanship, respect, integrity, honor, humility
fair and squaredishonestly
In an untruthful manner
unfairly · underhandedly · by hook or by crook · deceitfully · fraudulently
fair and squareillegitimately
In unauthorized manner
unjustly · unfairly · improperly · wrongfully · invalidly
fair and squareunder the table
Without official documentation
behind closed doors · illicitly · improperly · irregularly · on the sly
fair, square, unfair, fairness, fairly, unfairly, squares, fairs, squarely