Squared away
Meaning
To have everything organized, settled, or properly arranged.
Origin
In the golden age of sail, keeping a ship 'squared away' was a matter of life and death. Sailors had to ensure that the yards—the horizontal spars holding the sails—were perfectly perpendicular to the mast and parallel to the ship's keel. This meticulous alignment, along with ensuring all rigging was coiled, decks were cleared, and everything was stowed correctly, meant the ship was ready for any weather, any command, or any journey. From this precise nautical requirement for order and readiness, the phrase sailed ashore, evolving into its modern meaning of having everything organized and properly settled, ready for whatever comes next.
Examples
- Before we leave for the trip, I need to make sure all the luggage is squared away and the house is locked up.
- The project manager felt much better once all the details for the presentation were squared away.