box the compass

box the compass
совершить полный круг, прийти к тому, с чего начал [этим. мор. правильно называть румбы компаса]

I want to take his powers away from him; and how am I going to do it? I've boxed the compass, trying to figure out how it can be done legally... (U. Sinclair, ‘Oil!’, ch. XVII) — Я хочу лишить Верна власти. А как это можно сделать? Я обдумал все законные способы и вернулся к первоначальной мысли...

It is not necessary to pursue the involved underground journey that occupied the next hour. At the end of it, hare and hound emerged in good order at Piccadilly, having boxed the compass pretty successfully in the interval. (D. L. Sayers, ‘Have His Carcase’, ch. XXV) — Нет необходимости описывать запутанную поездку в метро, которая заняла целый час. В конце концов преследуемый, а за ним и преследователь вышли на Пиккадилли, благополучно описав круг.

We more or less boxed the compass on this, trying to guess which order he belonged to. (E. O'Connor, ‘The Edge of Sadness’, part III, ch. X) — Мы перебрали все, но так и не могли решить, к какому ордену принадлежал этот монах.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "box the compass" в других словарях:

  • box the compass — phrasal 1. : to name the 32 points of the compass in their order 2. : to make a complete turn or reversal (as in policy, opinion) * * * box the compass 1. To name the 32 compass points in order in either or both directions 2. To make a complete… …   Useful english dictionary

  • box the compass — recite the compass points in correct order. → box …   English new terms dictionary

  • box the compass — idi naut. navig. a) to recite the points of the compass in a clockwise order b) to make a complete turn or reversal …   From formal English to slang

  • To box the compass — Box Box, v. t. [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.] To boxhaul. [1913 Webster] {To box off} (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback. {To box the compass} (Naut.), to name the thirty two points of the compass in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • box the compass — verb /bɒks ðə ˈkʌmpəs/ a) To know, and be able to recite the 32 points and quarter points of the magnetic compass from North, both clockwise and anticlockwise …   Wiktionary

  • box — box1 [bäks] n. [ME & OE, a container, box < VL buxis < L buxus, boxwood < Gr pyxos] 1. any of various kinds of containers, usually rectangular and lidded, made of cardboard, wood, or other stiff material; case; carton 2. the contents or… …   English World dictionary

  • Box — Box, v. t. [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.] To boxhaul. [1913 Webster] {To box off} (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback. {To box the compass} (Naut.), to name the thirty two points of the compass in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • box — box1 boxlike, adj. /boks/, n. 1. a container, case, or receptacle, usually rectangular, of wood, metal, cardboard, etc., and often with a lid or removable cover. 2. the quantity contained in a box: She bought a box of candy as a gift. 3. Chiefly… …   Universalium

  • box — I. /bɒks / (say boks) noun 1. a case or receptacle, usually rectangular, of wood, metal, cardboard, etc., with a lid or removable cover. 2. → glory box. 3. Music a. a speaker box. b. any amplifier or electronic device. 4. the quantity contained… …  

  • box — 1. n. & v. n. 1 a container, usu. with flat sides and of firm material such as wood or card, esp. for holding solids. 2 a the amount that will fill a box. b Brit. a gift of a kind formerly given to tradesmen etc. at Christmas. 3 a separate… …   Useful english dictionary

  • box — I. noun (plural box or boxes) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin buxus, from Greek pyxos Date: before 12th century an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus of the family Buxaceae, the box family) with opposite entire… …   New Collegiate Dictionary


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