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Glite Dictionary
to box the compass

to box the compass

9.9
To say all the compass points in order and name every direction
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : conocer los puntos cardinales
  • Old sailors were expected to box the compass as part of their training.

Examples

  • Can you box the compass in under a minute?

  • In his exam, the cadet had to box the compass without making a single mistake.

  • She surprised her friends by being able to box the compass flawlessly.

  • He can box the compass without any hesitation.

  • During navigation class, the instructor asked each student to box the compass and demonstrate their skill.

  • To pass the maritime exam, candidates must be able to box the compass accurately and quickly.

  • The experienced sailor could box the compass at any time, ensuring he always knew his directions.

Synonyms

to orient
vsto box the compass
14 3.9

To place or point something in a particular direction, for example toward the sun

recites all compass points in order or names precise directions rather than aligning objects

Surface Forms

box the compass infinitive
boxed the compass past
boxed the compass past participle
boxing the compass present participle
boxes the compass third person singular

Morphology

box + the + compass

The overall meaning ('to recite all the points of the compass' or to know directions precisely) is an archaic nautical idiom that cannot be straightforwardly built from the literal senses of 'box' and 'compass'. The verb 'box' is ambiguous (container, punch, enclose) and the phrase is idiomatic and rare, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Box the compass comes from old sailors who would say every point on the compass, one after another, almost like putting each direction into a box. So it came to mean 'to name or know all the directions'.