square pegs in round holes

A form of square peg in a round hole — Someone or something that does not fit well or at all in a certain setting; a misfit; hence, someone or something that will not succeed in an endeavour, except possibly with much effort and force.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of square peg in a round hole
Cite this entry
APA

square pegs in round holes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/square%20pegs%20in%20round%20holes

MLA

“square pegs in round holes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/square%20pegs%20in%20round%20holes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “square pegs in round holes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/square%20pegs%20in%20round%20holes.

Source: square pegs in round holes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.