find (one's) bearings

(redirected from find their bearings)

find (one's) bearings

To recognize or determine one's orientation, position, or abilities relative to one's surroundings or situation. It took me a little while to find my bearings in the new office, but after a week, I felt as if I'd been working there for years. We need to get above the treeline if we're going to find our bearings and reach the campsite before dark.
See also: bearing, find

find/get your ˈbearings

find out exactly where you are, or the details of the situation you are in, especially when this is new and unfamiliar: We got off the bus right in the centre of town and it took us a moment or two to get our bearings. ♢ I’ve only been in the job for a week so I’m still finding my bearings.
See also: bearing, find, get
References in periodicals archive ?
In the film, which is yet to get a title, Bachchan plays Vijay Barse, who more than a decade ago, established the Nagpur-based NGO Slum Soccers, which helps children from slums find their bearings through the game of football.
Amitabh Bachchan to play slum football founder
INTERPRETERS A GREAT HELP: With most signs and hoardings in Arabic, non-Arabic speakers find it difficult to find their bearings during Haj.
1,000 preachers, interpreters to guide Hajis
TEHRAN (FNA)- Researchers announced that they have successfully created perfect one-dimensional molecular wires of which the electrical conductivity can almost entirely be suppressed by a weak magnetic field at room temperature, a mechanism possibly closely related to the biological compass used by some migratory birds to find their bearings in the geomagnetic field.
Radically Better Smartphones Inspired by Birds
Michael Bell's juveniles often need their initial start to find their bearings and The Lark was staying on in good style despite her evident inexperience.
Prodigality set to overcome penalty
relies for his assessment of the Enlightenment and the rise of tolerance on slightly dated literature, and despite the fact that almost no Anglophone works are engaged, these volumes enable theologians and historians to find their bearings in the almost impenetrable landscape of interconfessional dialogues.
Die innerchristlichen Religionsgesprache im Abendland: Regionale Verbreitung, institutionelle Gestalt, theologische Themen, kirchenpo litische Funktion: Mit besonderer Berucksichtigung des Konfessionellen Zeitalters (1517-1689)
The guys will have to take at least a few shifts to find their bearings.
Jeff's gunning for his old Vipers pals; Hutchins is aiming to add to woe for Stewart
The new map, in Trinity Street, has a "You Are Here" arrow to help tourists and shoppers find their bearings in the city.
YOU ARE NOT HERE; City centre guide map points to wrong street
The village hall is always a difficult place to play due to its confined space and this caused problems for the visiting Mariners, who struggled to find their bearings as a rampant Vikings plundered an 18-2 lead in the first period.
Basketball: Thunder victory shows quality; TEESSIDE BASKETBALL
The doves are a model of community--a flock flies together, going the same direction with one common purpose--to find their bearings and head home.
The nature of flying
After both sides struggled to find their bearings with a greasy ball on a slippy surface, James McGovern opened the scoring for Down seconds after Brown's penalty miss and by the 13th minute they were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.
GAA: SUPER MACS DOWN DUBS; DOWN..............2-7 DUBLIN.............0-9
With funding from LEEL, Edinburgh Compact has a few more events in hand to help the next generation find their bearings in the jobs market.
To the TEST; Job Skills Days will help young people find their feet when looking for the type of job they want
His courage and leadership helped New Yorkers find their bearings - and show courage of their own - in the days, weeks, and months following the disaster.
New York Magazine to Award Mayor Rudy Giuliani Lifetime Achievement Award
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