square off

Meanings

verbsquare off (third-person singular simple present squares off, present participle squaring off, simple past and past participle squared off)

present singular third person squares off · participle present squaring off · participle past squared off · past squared off

CanadaUSintransitiveTo get ready for a confrontation (debate, argument, fight).
Hey, man, don't square off on me with some bullshit.
1984, Daniel Petrie Jr., Beverly Hills Cop, spoken by Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), Paramount Pictures
2 more examples
When James Baldwin Squared Off Against William F. Buckley Jr. [title]
2019 October 18, Thomas Meaney, “When James Baldwin Squared Off Against William F. Buckley Jr.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 16 Jul 2020
The world’s two biggest economies, the United States and China, squared off on the South China Sea issue at a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders on Thursday (Sep 9) while host Indonesia urged counterparts to maintain peace and avoid conflicts.
2023 September 7, “US, China square off on the South China Sea as Indonesia urges leaders to maintain peace”, in CNA, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2023
Synonyms: square up · Antonyms: stand down
industrial designTo increase the boxiness of (a design).
After the aeronautically inspired curvaceous designs of the 1930s and 1940s, many American automotive designs of the 1950s through 1970s were somewhat more squared off.
Antonyms: round off