square meal：美餐
Time：July 27, 2024
square的最常见含义是“正方形”，但也有fair或honest之义，所以square meal为“相当好的饭”。
汉语有“贤良方正”，表达“德才兼备的好人品”。此“方”乃是“不以规矩不成方圆”的“方”之引申义，大义是守规矩。
英语的square源自通俗拉丁语*exquadra，后者由*exquadrare逆向构词。*exquadrare=ex-+ quadrare, 含义为make square, set in order, complete。
短语fair and square可用作状语，含义是“光明正大地”。所以square meal的square为“相当好程度的”之义。
因为meal是可数名词，所以要加square meal前要加限定词，如
【例句1】He looks as though he hasn't had a square meal for weeks. （他看起来好像已经好几个星期没吃一顿像样的饭了。）[牛津高级学者辞典]
【例句2】You need a good square meal. (你需要一顿丰盛的大餐。)[剑桥高级学者辞典]
【例句3】Children should have three square meals a day.（孩子们应该一天吃顿美餐。）[朗文当代英语词典]
