E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bearings.
I’ll bring him to his bearings. I’ll bring him to his senses. A sea term. The bearings of a ship at anchor is that part of her hull which is on the water-line when she is in good trim. To bring a ship to her bearings is to get her into this trim. (Dana: The Seaman’s Manual, 84.)
1
To lose one’s bearings. To become bewildered; to get perplexed as to which is the right road.
2
To take the bearings. To ascertain the relative position of some object.
