square one's shoulders
Stand up straight
To square one's shoulders is to pull them back and straighten up, typically in preparation for confronting something difficult.
The gesture signals resolve or determination: She squared her shoulders and walked into the interview.
The phrase often appears when someone steels themselves for an unpleasant task or conversation.
Make linear or orderly
- erectVertical in position
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- alignArrange in a row
- adjustChange to fit better
position · brace · steady · firm · tense · chest out · stand tall · pull back
straighten
Make linear or orderly
adjust · position · brace · steady · firm · tense · chest out · stand tall · pull back · lift
determination
Firmness of purpose
grit · backbone · composure · readiness · defiance · confrontation · face · steel oneself · dig in
square one's shoulderscower
Shrink back in dread
cringe · shrink back · lose heart · give up · throw in the towel
square one's shouldersslump
Extended period of decline
slouch · hunch over · droop · sag · hang one's head
square, squared, squaring, squares, squarish, squarely, squareness, shoulder, shoulders