fair and square

Idioms and Phrases

Just and honest, as in He won the race fair and square . This redundant expression— fair and square mean essentially the same thing—probably owes its long life to its rhyme. [Early 1600s]

Example Sentences

He won fair and square but to call it an overwhelming mandate to dismantle the government is ridiculous.

From Salon

But most on the right just gave it up, happy to accept the results and move on to taunting those who lost fair and square.

From Salon

He is a serial liar, including about the results of an American election he lost fair and square.

From Slate

"I'm looking forward to a fantastic fight, Oleksandr won the first fight fair and square," he said.

From BBC

Taking to Instagram to rubbish all the “crackpot theories”, Te Hiiritanga Wepiha - a Kiwi judge on the Oceania qualifying panel - said Raygun won fair and square.

From BBC