compass


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

box the compass

1. To count off all 32 points of a compass in a clockwise order. Sailor! Box the compass for me, posthaste! I need a man to box the compass for me! Grandpa was sharp until the day he died. Heck, he could still box the compass with the best of them.
2. To completely reverse one's position or stance on something, such an issue, belief, argument, etc. After seeing so much evidence regarding climate change, I was forced to box the compass. She fought me on that for years! I can't believe she's finally boxed the compass. I used to be OK with school taxes, but I've boxed the compass now that I know I'll never have kids of my own. Why should I pay for other people's children to go to school?
See also: box, compass

lose (one's) moral compass

To no longer be adhering to the virtues, morals, or ethics that one previously followed. Our country certainly seems to have lost its moral compass in recent times. It feels like the only priority is for the wealthy to accumulate more wealth, all other concerns be damned.
See also: compass, lose, moral

moral compass

That which serves or guides a person's knowledge, sense, or intuition of correct virtues, morals, or ethics. Our country's moral compass has surely gone awry in recent times, as our priorities seem now to favor the wealthy accumulating more wealth at the expense of any other concern.
See also: compass, moral
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

box the compass

Make a complete turnabout or reversal, as in With a change of ownership, the editorial page boxed the compass politically, now supporting the Senator . Originally this was (and continues to be) a nautical term, meaning "repeat the 32 points of the compass in order." In the early 1800s it began to be used figuratively.
See also: box, compass
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

box the compass

1. To name the 32 points of the compass in proper order.
2. To make a complete revolution or reversal.
See also: box, compass
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in periodicals archive ?
Compass Self Storage strives to make the storage experience streamlined and stress free by employing knowledgeable team members who help guide the customer through the entire process.
Compass Self Storage Acquires 90th Storage Centre Nationwide
* New agents are offered healthcare benefits, a Compass credit card, bridge loans for their sellers, high commission splits, bonuses, marketing funds and stock options.
POWER PLAYERS FACE OFF: Realogy Vs Compass: Who they are and how they got there
"We are thrilled to join an organization with a focus on its clients and their people that so closely aligns to Compass' mission of redefining health care," said Adam Johnson, president of Compass.
Lincolnshire's Alight Solutions acquires Dallas firm
Complementing Compass's competitive First Officer compensation are increases for Captains that will allow Compass to remain among the leaders in Captain pay among comparable regional carriers.
Compass Airlines reaches agreement with pilot union on 2-year contract extension
Compass Coffee already specialises in providing as much Welsh produce as possible, and won this year's Food Awards Wales for best cafe/bistro.
Tapas bar offering small foods that are big on quality and taste
Start at the top of the compass with Vision, or the north point on the compass, sometimes called true north.
Define Your Moral Compass in Nursing Practice
Announcing the opening of bookings, Kevin Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India said, "To harness the great demand for the JeepEeA Compass, we have executed a customer outreach across 21 cities at 26 shopping malls across India.
FCA India opens pre-bookings for the Jeep Compass in Delhi/NCR
The basic design of an aircraft's magnetic compass like the top one in the sidebar on the opposite page places two small magnets on a metal float inside a bowl of clear fluid similar to kerosene.
The magnetic compass: the simplest instrument in the panel also has simple requirements, but it can be the most difficult to use
Do you remember the last time your compass was checked for accuracy on a compass rose or with a calibrated site compass?
Mag compass upkeep: more than fluid fills: you might save money by helping with time-consuming calibrations, but a new replacement makes better sense than attempting major bench repairs
3 November 2015 - US-based private equity fund Monomoy Capital Partners has completed the sale of US-based aluminium design and casting company Compass Automotive Group to US-based private equity firm the Shipston Group, Inc.
Monomoy Capital Partners Sells Compass Automotive Group
Vitals, a New Jersey-based firm that provides physician ratings to help consumers shop for medical care, has acquired price transparency company Compass Healthcare Advisers of Bedford.
Compass Healthcare Advisers acquired by NJ. firm
Bristol, United Kingdom, October 17, 2014 --(PR.com)-- For their Ice Cold Gig 2014, Jagermeister returned to the expert support services of expedition company, Secret Compass, to help them stage their world-first gig on an iceberg.
Secret Compass Helps Jagermeister Stage World First
Place the compass on the map so that its long edge connects the starting point with the destination.
Hiking? Get your bearings right
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?