Sometimes , this show begins with a simple word . Then it builds and builds into a long story with many different expressions . Today , we start with the word “circle .” Mathematicians describe it as 360 degrees traveling endlessly around and around . The expression circle of life comes from this idea . Living creatures are constantly being born and dying , over and over , like a circle . Many of the circle expressions we will learn today mean just that – to go around and around while thinking , speaking or doing just about anything . Let's continue with the phrase going around in circles . This expression means to spend a lot of time and effort trying to get something done , without making any progress . Now , to run around in circles or to run in circles is not a type of exercise . If you are running in circles you are wasting time doing an activity that has no purpose or end . For example , I was planning to clean and organize my apartment over the weekend . It seemed like a simple task . But for hours , I just kept running around in circles . So , I decided to stop and try again next weekend . However , running circles around someone means something quite different . If you run circles around someone , you do something much better than another person or group of people . For example , “She runs circles around all the other kids in her math class .” And running circles around someone is completely different than running in the same circles with them . The word “circle ” can also mean a group of people sharing a common goal or interest . So , to run in the same circles means that you go to similar places and know similar people as someone else . You can simply say , “We have been running in the same circles for years .” You can also define these circles in a more detailed way . For example , you can call your family members your family circle . This includes your immediate family -- your mom , dad , brothers and sisters -- and also your extended family -- your grandparents , aunts , uncles , nieces , nephews and cousins . The people in your social circle are the friends with whom you socialize – you know , hang out and do fun things . If you hang out with people for a special reason , they can be in a special circle . Those in your inner circle are the most trusted people in your life . They mean more than your social circle . They may include your family members , friends and professional colleagues – those who you trust most . Now , talking in circles does not mean you are talking with people in your circles . To talk in circles is to talk a lot but not make much sense . When you talk in circles you may be trying to avoiding a topic ; so , you talk around it . When we circle back , we revisit something we have already done or discussed . For example , let's say you bring up an issue at a work meeting but there isn't enough time to discuss it . Your boss may say that the group will circle back to your issue at another time . That's what circles do – they go around and around in 360 degrees . Now , let's hear some of these circle expressions used in a short story . Samantha loves to go hiking . She loves being outdoors , exploring nature and seeing new parts of the country . She may have a goal , but she doesn't take hiking that seriously . To her , it's just fun ! So , she joins a hiking group in the city where she lives . In her new hiking circle , there's one guy , Alex , who takes hiking very seriously . He even gets competitive , if such a thing is possible with hiking . For Alex , a hiking trail is something to defeat and then brag about later . He likes to say he runs circles around all the other hikers in the group . Samantha thinks this kind of talk is really silly and may represent a deeper personal problem . She wonders if she should even run in the same circle with Alex . But , she thinks , he does know some pretty great trails . So , she keeps him in her in hiking circle but out of her other social circles and nowhere near her inner circle . On a beautiful day in May , Samantha's hiking circle meets to decide which trail to hike for their first summer trip . Samantha speaks up first . She suggests a mountain trail in West Virginia . It is one she knows very well . In fact , everyone in her family circle knows it really well . As a child her family spent summer vacations in the area . The others think it's a great idea – well , everyone except Alex . For 15 minutes , he talks in circles . He gives reasons that do not make any sense about why they should not hike this trail . He adds that the trail is much too easy for him . This leads the others to wonder if the trail is worthwhile . So , they go around in circles for hours , talking about many trails but deciding on none . Many pots of coffee later , the group circles back to Samantha's first suggestion . They decide to hike the trail in West Virginia after all . Samantha rolls her eyes but she is happy the selection process has come full circle . He hiked the trail far ahead of everyone else , took a wrong turn and got lost . After a two-hour search-and-rescue effort , the park police found him shivering under a lot of leaves and sticks in the dark , cold night . But he's no longer a part of Samantha's hiking circle … or anyone's hiking circle . The last the group heard , he quit hiking and joined a competitive yoga group . That is one circle , Samantha thought , that I want nothing to do with . And that is some of our expressions using this simple shape that goes around in 360 degrees – the circle . We began our show with a simple definition of a circle . And now , we have come full circle . Join us again next week when we will circle back with new expressions to teach .