General
square
What does square mean?
A conventional, old-fashioned person who follows the rules and rejects countercultural ideas.
"Her parents were total squares who didn't get the music."
Origin
From 1940s jazz slang, where musicians used a square hand gesture to mock listeners stuck on rigid 4/4 time. The 1960s counterculture used 'square' for anyone conventional and unhip.
Frequently asked questions
What does square mean in slang?
It refers to a conventional, conformist person who is out of step with hip or countercultural trends.
Where did square come from?
From 1940s jazz slang, where a square hand gesture mocked listeners stuck on rigid rhythm; it came to mean anyone unhip.
Is square an insult?
It is a mild put-down, dismissing someone as dull or conformist rather than a harsh slur.
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