A jocular term for a trashcan or waste basket, i.e., a receptacle for unwanted files. You have to make your application really stand out if you don't want it to end up in the employer's circular file.

A group, usually a political party, that is allied against a common enemy or opponent but whose internal disagreements and attacks end up doing more damage to each other than to their target. The lead up to the presidential nomination saw the party devolve into a circular firing squad, as each candidate's vociferous bid to unseat the incumbent president ended up creating huge divisions and disarray within the party itself.