Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

round-peg-in-a-square-hole

idiom

/raʊnd pɛɡ ɪn ə skwɛr hoʊl/

Definition

A metaphorical expression describing a person or thing that does not fit into a particular situation or environment.

Examples

She felt like a round peg in a square hole at the corporate meeting, where everyone else was more experienced.
His artistic approach made him feel like a round peg in a square hole at the engineering conference.

Meaning

It refers to someone who does not belong or is not well-suited to their current circumstances, often implying a mismatch between their abilities and the expectations of their environment.