circular file
The trash container; the wastebasket.
He was completely underqualified for the job, so I put his resume directly into the circular file.
circular
/ˈsɜː.kjə.lə/
adj 5noun 5verb 2
Collocations
3(adj.)
VERBS
be, look
The moon was almost circular when we looked up at the night sky.
ADV
perfectly
The baker shaped the dough into a perfectly circular loaf for the competition.
almost, nearly, roughly, virtually
The table was almost circular, so we could fit everyone around it comfortably.
Definitions
adj
1
Of or relating to a circle.
2
In the shape of, or moving in, a circle.
Near-synonyms: oval; round; toroid, ringlike, round-like
Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
3
Circuitous or roundabout.
4
Referring back to itself, so as to prevent computation or comprehension; infinitely recursive.
circular reasoning
Your dictionary defines "brave" as "courageous", and "courageous" as "brave". That's a circular definition.
5
Distributed to a large number of persons.
a proclamation of Henry III., […] doubtless circular throughout England
noun
1
An advertisement, directive or notice intended for mass circulation.
The pigeon-hole was also stuffed with circulars and hand-bills.
2
Ellipsis of circular letter.
3
Ellipsis of circular file.
4
A sleeveless cloak cut from a circular pattern.
5
A shuttle bus with a circular route.
verb
1
To distribute circulars to or at.
The result of the sending of these notices confirms me in the opinion, that it will be necessary to adopt legal means with the great majority of these parties. The circulars have had little effect. In fact, the parties have been “circulared" into the notion that nothing more formidable will ever be sent to them.
It is true, that, to obtain these, some six hundred or more institutions were circulared, and a good many of these a second time.
2
To extend in a circular direction.
The theme can be expressed in an architectural analogy. For, of all contriving to encover space, the arch — alone or 'circulared' into the dome — is the most ingenious.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
circular firing squad
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
"What we're seeing here is a kind of circular firing squad, with everybody standing in a circle pointing fingers at the person beside them," said Representative Robert S. Walker of
Example Bank
601
Near-synonyms: oval; round; toroid, ringlike, round-like
Wiktionary02
Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of
Wiktionary03
circular reasoning
Wiktionary04
The pigeon-hole was also stuffed with circulars and hand-bills.
Wiktionary05
The result of the sending of these notices confirms me in the opinion, that it will be necessary to adopt legal means with the great majority of these parties. The circulars have had little effect. In
Wiktionary06
It is true, that, to obtain these, some six hundred or more institutions were circulared, and a good many of these a second time.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, circular is marked as dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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