box the compass

1. 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.

Example Sentences

She could knot and splice, box the compass, and every sailor's weather rhyme was familiar to her.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

If Boston be your starting-point, you must travel a hundred and twenty miles to get fifty; and, by the time you arrive at the extremity of the Cape, should be able to box the compass.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding all this, as far as stable duties are concerned, I can reef, steer, and box the compass, so to speak.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

He hadn’t learned to box the compass, however; and even had he possessed the knowledge, there wasn’t a compass on board the Merry Maiden to box or be boxed.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

We want to learn to set a sail, to splice a rope, to heave the lead, box the compass, turn the capstan, reef and steer—in fact, all a sailor’s duties.”

Read more on Project Gutenberg