Definition

Noun: A complete, satisfying, and nutritious meal that provides adequate sustenance. The term emphasizes the meal's substantial nature and its ability to properly nourish a person.

Usage

The phrase "square meal" is used to describe a proper, full meal, often in contrast to a snack or an inadequate meal. It is typically used with quantifiers like "a" or "three."

Examples

• After working all day on the farm, he sat down to a square meal of meat, potatoes, and vegetables.
• The shelter provides the homeless with at least one square meal a day.
• You can't survive on coffee and crackers; you need a square meal.

Advanced Usage

• "three square meals a day": This is a very common, almost idiomatic, expression referring to the traditional pattern of eating a proper breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • The job was tough, but it guaranteed three square meals a day.

Variants and Related Words

• Squarely (adv): In a direct, firm, or solid manner. While related etymologically in the sense of "solid" or "proper," it is not used to describe food.
• Hearty meal: A synonym emphasizing the meal's large and satisfying quality.

Synonyms

• Solid meal
• Hearty meal
• Full meal
• Substantial meal

Idioms

• "three square meals (a day)": The standard for adequate daily nourishment.
  • All I ask for is a roof over my head and three square meals.

Noun

1. a substantial and nourishing meal
   • he seldom got three square meals a day