# Please decipher this saying on a t-shirt **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [June 11, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737 "2024-06-11T14:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/41 "2024-06-13T20:16:09Z")
It’s an ancient trope. > [@](#): > > I couldn’t take it any longer > Lord I was crazed > And when the feeling came upon me > Like a tidal wave > I started swearing to my god and on my mother’s grave > That I would love you to the end of time > I swore that I would love you to the end of time! > **So now I’m praying for the end of time > To hurry up and arrive > 'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you > I don’t think that I can really survive** > I’ll never break my promise or forget my vow > But God only knows what I can do right now > I’m praying for the end of time > It’s all that I can do > Praying for the end of time, > So I can end my time with you! – _Meat Loaf, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”_ ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/42 "2024-06-14T00:54:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Millenials and Gen Zs just haven’t been married long enough to appreciate the humor. Whereas boomers have gotten old enough that they’re remembering their dad’s and grandpa’s jokes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/43 "2024-06-14T01:05:05Z")
I’m surprised “square up” is so mysterious to many. It means to get ready to fight; to assume a fighting stance. There’s also the meaning to make things even, like with a bill, but I hear the fighting variation more often, usually in a joking sense. “Wanna square up, bro?” means “wanna fight?” ETA: If you just Google “square up” the fighting meaning is given first, and then the settling a debt: > [@](#): > > square up > > phrasal verb of [square](https://www.google.com/search?sa=X&sca_esv=13f83d3e4d744b27&sca_upv=1&biw=1237&bih=719&sxsrf=ADLYWIJkkMBSljToJZ1jjY6JqtI46yn58w:1718327135997&q=square&si=ACC90nwtWCF_nyXpdT9EbKBtH5Tn7jSfVN12cMos7l0rGJlgOzVsM-8oVsOK5sdtTrftubj-OzhLHF0lFnqzTJRbax2UoMe4EQ%3D%3D&expnd=1&ved=2ahUKEwib8LG089mGAxUAvokEHbhwCtcQgSt6BAg0EAw) > > 1. > 1. > > assume the attitude of a person about to fight. > > “the fighters squared up in the ring” > > - face and tackle a difficulty or problem [resolutely](https://www.google.com/search?sa=X&sca_esv=13f83d3e4d744b27&sca_upv=1&biw=1237&bih=719&sxsrf=ADLYWIJkkMBSljToJZ1jjY6JqtI46yn58w:1718327135997&q=resolutely&si=ACC90nz-2feRzoY4yuySkO-aQE814jcJvu2PkvEg99K4TV-U-wnwt0UMC-xNk80g-R5MCEAmnSWvNIMH4WqpDDZGovJ3hdkfruf34i8o1i5hWGGAqCjpyDw%3D&expnd=1&ved=2ahUKEwib8LG089mGAxUAvokEHbhwCtcQyecJegQINBAP). > > “they squared up to the need for a relief expedition” > > 1. > 1. > > settle or pay an account. > > “would you square up the bill?” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/44 "2024-06-14T01:13:31Z")
What’s even more interesting is that the mystery persisted in the thread even after it was quickly explained. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/45 "2024-06-14T01:37:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Millenials and Gen Zs just haven’t been married long enough to appreciate the humor. I tend to give Gen X the credit for killing that particular kind of humor. I think its because we were the first generation to grow up with divorce being largely socially normalized. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/46 "2024-06-14T13:26:04Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > _Meat Loaf, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”_ Love that song. I once sang (karaoke) the male lines along with a woman who did the female lines. We both really nailed it and got applause. After, we hugged and she left and I never saw her again. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/47 "2024-06-14T13:44:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Love that song. I once sang (karaoke) the male lines along with a woman who did the female lines. We both really nailed it and got applause. After, we hugged and she left and I never saw her again. Couldn’t stand going to the local karaoke bar because that would get done several times a night. Rarely was anyone nailing it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/48 "2024-06-14T13:49:58Z")
Wow. I’ve never seen anyone attempt it, buy I’ve only been to a few karaoke events. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/49 "2024-06-14T14:17:42Z")
If you do an image search for “Love my husband but square up” you’ll see hundreds of items bearing the slogan, as well as the “Love my Wife But” slogan mentioned in the OP. Sheesh. It means people get exasperated. The slogans are not pointedly hostile to women or to men. Hell, I love my dogs but sometimes I want to square up. The “square up” phrase isn’t mysterious or incorrect. It’s not promoting violence, except in the eye rolling manner of “I love my kids, but sometimes I could drop them in a well.” I’m an out of touch boomer, but I’m slapping my forehead here. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/50 "2024-06-14T14:57:13Z")
I think it’s ridiculous. Stupid. Who cares? It’s so … random. Why announce to the world. you love your wife but get exasperated?? Like (I think it was) P.J. O’Rourke said, " It’s like “I 💓 My Dog” on a bumper sticker Who wants to know? Why not just stick your head out the widow and yell “I 💓 my dog” ? Yay for you. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/51 "2024-06-14T15:04:05Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I think it’s ridiculous. Stupid. Who cares? It’s so … random. Melanoma has a jacket you might wanna wear… [![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180621232630-melania-jacket.jpg?q=x_2,y_0,h_1078,w_1915,c_crop/w_1280) ](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180621232630-melania-jacket.jpg?q=x_2,y_0,h_1078,w_1915,c_crop/w_1280) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/52 "2024-06-14T15:05:04Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > (…) Who wants to know? Why not just stick your head out the widow and yell “I 💓 my dog” ? Yay for you. Yeah, but… it provides work for Etsy crafters, silk screen companies, entry level designers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/53 "2024-06-14T15:06:53Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > It’s like “I 💓 My Dog” on a bumper sticker Who wants to know? Better than “I 🍆 my dog.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/54 "2024-06-14T15:19:03Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > ETA: If you just Google “square up” the fighting meaning is given first, and then the settling a debt: Whereas [dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/square-up) offers six definitions, only the 5th of which has anything to do with fighting: > [@](#): > > to confront or face up to something, as a fight, challenge, or sporting match (often followed by _to_ or _against_ ); [square off](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/square): [square](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/square): I find it increasingly intriguing that there’s such a wide range of responses in this thread, from those of us who’ve never encountered this phrase used this way to those to whom it’s totally normal. Is there a regional divide? Is this a phrase that’s used in some countries or areas and not others? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/55 "2024-06-14T15:31:15Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > It’s like “I 💓 My Dog” on a bumper sticker “I ♠ my dog” should get approval from anyone who understands the animal shelter crisis. “I ♣ my dog”, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/56 "2024-06-14T15:41:26Z")
Reg @gnoitall just above and … > [@Cervaise](#): > > Better than “I 🍆 my dog.” I was in high school when those bumper stickers first became the rage. I and a pal quickly got some circular stickers of the right size made which had a picture of a wood screw. So something about like this if you pretend the eraser is a flared screw head and the shaft has threads: ✏ Back in those halcyon days before anyone, much less everyone, carried a camera and fixed surveillance cameras were nearly non-existent, we quietly customized a _lot_ of dog-lover bumper stickers. :evil grin: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2024, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737/57 "2024-06-15T03:39:05Z")
This may be of interest: > **[square up Meaning & Origin | Slang by Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/square-up/#)** > > To square up means to get into a fighting position. It comes from boxing from the 1700s. I had no idea it was that old. I was going to guess it’s a generational thing, but, no. It’s apparently not. The meaning of settling debts is not attested until the 1800s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-decipher-this-saying-on-a-t-shirt/1002737.md?page=2)