ride the circuit

present singular third person rides the circuit · participle present riding the circuit · past rode the circuit · participle past ridden the circuit

1. To travel between small towns on horseback, usually to preach or preside over courts of law.

   "Although commissioned, Hale J did not ride the circuit, his place being taken by Francis Swanton, the clerk of assize."

   1972, J. S. Cockburn, A History of English Assizes, 1558-1714, page 284

   3 more examples

   "Likewise, other local lawyers would ride the circuit for a session or two, briefly joining the core group as it traveled the circuit, and return home."

   1999, Timothy R. Mahoney, Provincial Lives: Middle-Class Experience in the Antebellum Middle West, page 184

   Usually Methodists dealt with this problem by having their ministers "ride the circuit" by periodically visiting homes and class meetings.

   2001, Catherine L. Albanese, American Spiritualities: A Reader, page 191

   Dr. Strang was the superintendent of the Home Missionary Work. He took a liking to Stanley and told him that they would give him work in the ministry, if he would ride the circuit.

   2011, Keith Earnest Andersen, The Last of the Pioneers, page 92

2. slangTo move someone who has been arrested from police station to police station, thereby hindering release.

   “But we don't have to. We can ride the circuit with you. It might take days."

   1949, Raymond Chandler, The Little Sister, page 197