circular file

circular file
noun
a container with an open top; for discarded paper and other rubbish
• Hypernyms: ↑container

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noun

* * *

Facetious.
a wastebasket.
[1945-50]

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circular file noun (computing)
A file in which each item has a pointer to the next, the last leading back to the first
• • •
Main Entry: ↑circular

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circular file,
U.S. Slang. a wastepaper basket: »

A petition to amend the tax law was sent to Governor Carey's office in April but Mr. Bourke said “it probably went into the circular file somewhere” (New York Times).

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noun, pl ⋯ files [count]
US informal + humorous : ↑wastebasket

I tossed/threw his letter in the circular file. [=I threw away his letter]


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • circular file — n a ↑wastepaper basket used humorously …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • circular file — noun singular HUMOROUS a way of describing a WASTE BASKET that makes it sound like an important part of the system used for organizing documents in an office …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • circular file — n. Informal a wastebasket …   English World dictionary

  • circular file — n. a wastebasket. (See also file thirteen.) □ That letter went straight into the circular file. □ Most of the junk mail sits here until I can put it into the circular file …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • circular file — noun The trash container; the wastebasket. He was completely under qualified for the job, so I put his resume directly into the circular file. Syn: round file …   Wiktionary

  • circular file — garbage can or wastebasket, file 13    A lot of memos go in the circular file. They re garbage …   English idioms

  • circular file —    American    a wastepaper basket    Most of them are round; and see file thirteen …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • circular file — cir′cular file′ n. cvb sts a wastebasket • Etymology: 1945–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • circular file — noun Date: 1967 wastebasket …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • circular file — Facetious. a wastebasket. [1945 50] * * * …   Universalium

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