Form a circle line? (Verb)












7















Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:




form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)




enter image description here



What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.










share|improve this question




















  • 4





    The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 11 at 18:27


















7















Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:




form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)




enter image description here



What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.










share|improve this question




















  • 4





    The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 11 at 18:27
















7












7








7








Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:




form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)




enter image description here



What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.










share|improve this question
















Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:




form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)




enter image description here



What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.







word-choice phrases






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 11 at 18:23









FumbleFingers

44.9k155119




44.9k155119










asked Jan 11 at 18:06









John ArvinJohn Arvin

1,084839




1,084839








  • 4





    The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 11 at 18:27
















  • 4





    The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 11 at 18:27










4




4





The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27







The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.

– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27












5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















22














Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:




Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)



Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)



Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)




etc.






share|improve this answer


























  • Oh this is also excellent.

    – John Arvin
    Jan 11 at 18:45






  • 1





    You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

    – retnikt
    Jan 13 at 8:38



















10















Form a circle around me.




Forget "line".






share|improve this answer
























  • Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

    – John Arvin
    Jan 11 at 18:12








  • 2





    If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Jan 11 at 18:14



















6














“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)






share|improve this answer































    4














    "Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.



    In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
    "Let's all sit in a circle."






    share|improve this answer































      0














      After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"






      share|improve this answer
























      • Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

        – John Arvin
        Jan 13 at 14:05











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      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes








      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      22














      Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:




      Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)



      Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)



      Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)




      etc.






      share|improve this answer


























      • Oh this is also excellent.

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:45






      • 1





        You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

        – retnikt
        Jan 13 at 8:38
















      22














      Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:




      Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)



      Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)



      Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)




      etc.






      share|improve this answer


























      • Oh this is also excellent.

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:45






      • 1





        You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

        – retnikt
        Jan 13 at 8:38














      22












      22








      22







      Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:




      Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)



      Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)



      Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)




      etc.






      share|improve this answer















      Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:




      Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)



      Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)



      Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)




      etc.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Jan 11 at 18:34

























      answered Jan 11 at 18:10









      TashusTashus

      6,300820




      6,300820













      • Oh this is also excellent.

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:45






      • 1





        You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

        – retnikt
        Jan 13 at 8:38



















      • Oh this is also excellent.

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:45






      • 1





        You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

        – retnikt
        Jan 13 at 8:38

















      Oh this is also excellent.

      – John Arvin
      Jan 11 at 18:45





      Oh this is also excellent.

      – John Arvin
      Jan 11 at 18:45




      1




      1





      You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

      – retnikt
      Jan 13 at 8:38





      You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.

      – retnikt
      Jan 13 at 8:38













      10















      Form a circle around me.




      Forget "line".






      share|improve this answer
























      • Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:12








      • 2





        If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

        – Tᴚoɯɐuo
        Jan 11 at 18:14
















      10















      Form a circle around me.




      Forget "line".






      share|improve this answer
























      • Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:12








      • 2





        If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

        – Tᴚoɯɐuo
        Jan 11 at 18:14














      10












      10








      10








      Form a circle around me.




      Forget "line".






      share|improve this answer














      Form a circle around me.




      Forget "line".







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Jan 11 at 18:10









      TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo

      113k788182




      113k788182













      • Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:12








      • 2





        If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

        – Tᴚoɯɐuo
        Jan 11 at 18:14



















      • Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

        – John Arvin
        Jan 11 at 18:12








      • 2





        If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

        – Tᴚoɯɐuo
        Jan 11 at 18:14

















      Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

      – John Arvin
      Jan 11 at 18:12







      Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...

      – John Arvin
      Jan 11 at 18:12






      2




      2





      If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

      – Tᴚoɯɐuo
      Jan 11 at 18:14





      If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"

      – Tᴚoɯɐuo
      Jan 11 at 18:14











      6














      “Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)






      share|improve this answer




























        6














        “Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)






        share|improve this answer


























          6












          6








          6







          “Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)






          share|improve this answer













          “Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 11 at 23:13









          CodeGnomeCodeGnome

          51427




          51427























              4














              "Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.



              In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
              "Let's all sit in a circle."






              share|improve this answer




























                4














                "Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.



                In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
                "Let's all sit in a circle."






                share|improve this answer


























                  4












                  4








                  4







                  "Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.



                  In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
                  "Let's all sit in a circle."






                  share|improve this answer













                  "Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.



                  In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
                  "Let's all sit in a circle."







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Jan 12 at 3:24









                  David KDavid K

                  2,864915




                  2,864915























                      0














                      After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                        – John Arvin
                        Jan 13 at 14:05
















                      0














                      After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                        – John Arvin
                        Jan 13 at 14:05














                      0












                      0








                      0







                      After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"






                      share|improve this answer













                      After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Jan 13 at 8:56









                      MaxWMaxW

                      1,742510




                      1,742510













                      • Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                        – John Arvin
                        Jan 13 at 14:05



















                      • Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                        – John Arvin
                        Jan 13 at 14:05

















                      Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                      – John Arvin
                      Jan 13 at 14:05





                      Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!

                      – John Arvin
                      Jan 13 at 14:05


















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