orient
orient to (something)
1. To position someone, something, or oneself toward some point, landmark, direction, or location. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "orient" and "to." Growing up, I always new to orient myself to the mountains to the west if I needed to know a compass direction. The front of the house is oriented to the sunrise, so the back of the house always faces the sun when it sets.
2. To be positioned so as to be facing some point, landmark, direction, or location. The master bedroom is oriented to the sea, so you can see the water the moment you wake up. The mountain amphitheater is oriented to the southeast so that it looks over the town below it.
3. To familiarize someone, something, or oneself with some information or situation; to help someone, something, or oneself adjust or become acclimated to some new information or situation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "orient" and "to." I'm going to have you shadow Martha for the first two weeks. She'll orient you to the way the office runs. I hate having to orient myself to a different operating system when I use someone else's computer.
4. To be or become familiar with, adjusted to, or acclimated to some new information or situation. Don't overload him with work until he has oriented to the new role.
See also: orient
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
orient someone to something
1. Lit. to help someone locate a compass direction or other similar location. Try to orient Karen to the light so I can photograph her. It took time, but I oriented myself to north at last.
2. Fig. to help someone adjust to something, a position, or a relationship. Will you please orient Bill to our routine? She found it difficult to orient herself to the new procedures.
See also: orient
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
orient to
v.
1. To position something or someone with respect to a point or system of reference: We oriented the telescope to the southern parts of the sky. The tent's opening is oriented to the sunlight.
2. To make someone familiar with something, as facts, principles, or a situation: I oriented the staff to the new computer system.
3. To become familiar with something, as facts, principles, or a situation: The rookie needs time to orient to the schedule.
4. To focus something on some topic or on the interests of some group: We should orient our meeting to any new problems that have arisen since last week. The afterschool program is oriented to elementary school students.
See also: orient
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- orient to
- orient to (something)
- spiff up
- spiffed up
- not do (someone or oneself) any favors
- identify with
- back into
- back into (someone or something)
- angle
- angling