turn square corners

turn square corners (third-person singular simple present turns square corners, present participle turning square corners, simple past and past participle turned square corners)

1. (law) To navigate through difficult regulatory or procedural requirements; to jump through hoops.
   • 2020, Niz-Chavez v. Garland (U.S. Supreme Court No. 19–863), Justice Gorsuch majority opinion:

     In this case, the law’s terms ensure that, when the federal government seeks a procedural advantage against an individual, it will at least supply him with a single and reasonably comprehensive statement of the nature of the proceedings against him. If men must turn square corners when they deal with the government, it cannot be too much to expect the government to turn square corners when it deals with them.

• cut corners