Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
squared off
English answer:
roped off the crime scene
Added to glossary by
S.J
May 11, 2022 20:16
1 yr ago
26 viewers *
English term
squared off
Non-PRO
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
squared off
Forensics have squared off on both crime scenes.
It is said in the context that they went down to the crimes scenes.
Thanks in advance,
It is said in the context that they went down to the crimes scenes.
Thanks in advance,
Responses
References
| just FYI |
Erzsébet Czopyk
|
Responses
1 day 21 mins
Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Hungary
Works in field
Hungary
sworn translator, linguist, DPO
Native in: Hungarian (Variant: Hungary) 
Works in: Russian to Hungarian, Hungarian to Russian, Latvian to Russian, and 10 more.
Selected
roped off the crime scene
Crime Scene Investigation: Introduction - Forensic Science ...
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org › csi
A body washes up on a lonely stretch of beach. ... A deceased man surrounded by crime scene tape and investigators collecting evidence items.
An effort must be made to disturb things as little as possible in assessing the situation. Particular attention should be paid to the floor since this is the most common repository for evidence and it poses the greatest potential for contamination. Notes should also be taken if the officer has to alter something in the investigation. Some things the officer should note include: the condition of the doors, windows, and lighting (both natural and manmade); if there are any odors present; if there are any signs of activity; how EMS or fire personnel have altered the scene; anything essential about the suspect (description, statements, physical condition, mental condition, intoxication, etc.); and anything essential about the victim. Once the scene has been stabilized, the scene and any other areas which may yield valuable evidence (driveways, surrounding yards, pathways, etc.) should be roped off to prevent unauthorized people from entering the area and potentially contaminating it. Investigators and other necessary personnel should be contacted and dispatched to the scene, however, under no circumstances should the telephone at the scene be used. Once the officer has secured the scene, https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/evidenc1.html
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Note added at 2 nap 12 óra (2022-05-14 08:58:14 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you and thank you to all the colleagues participating in the discussion.
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org › csi
A body washes up on a lonely stretch of beach. ... A deceased man surrounded by crime scene tape and investigators collecting evidence items.
An effort must be made to disturb things as little as possible in assessing the situation. Particular attention should be paid to the floor since this is the most common repository for evidence and it poses the greatest potential for contamination. Notes should also be taken if the officer has to alter something in the investigation. Some things the officer should note include: the condition of the doors, windows, and lighting (both natural and manmade); if there are any odors present; if there are any signs of activity; how EMS or fire personnel have altered the scene; anything essential about the suspect (description, statements, physical condition, mental condition, intoxication, etc.); and anything essential about the victim. Once the scene has been stabilized, the scene and any other areas which may yield valuable evidence (driveways, surrounding yards, pathways, etc.) should be roped off to prevent unauthorized people from entering the area and potentially contaminating it. Investigators and other necessary personnel should be contacted and dispatched to the scene, however, under no circumstances should the telephone at the scene be used. Once the officer has secured the scene, https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/evidenc1.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 nap 12 óra (2022-05-14 08:58:14 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you and thank you to all the colleagues participating in the discussion.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: We all know of this practice; but have you actually found any solid references for the use of this particular term? And what about the intrusion of that innocent little 'on', which in native EN tends to contradict this interpretation.
18 mins
|
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/squared off//on both of the crime scenes// =>on is related to 'the scenes' (Tony, I understand if you are in bad mood but why you do not enter your version? I do not want to piss you off but this is unfair.)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you."
6 hrs
David Hollywood
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
116
have both put and defended their position vis-a vis the other
is the meaning
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Erzsébet Czopyk
: what kind of position can be defended at the crime scene?
5 hrs
|
| neutral |
writeaway
: any refs to back this? see Tony's comment in Dbox-it says 'squared off on'.
7 hrs
|
| neutral |
AllegroTrans
: The forensic people are at war?
4 days
|
15 hrs
Anastasia Kalantzi
Greece
Greece
Works in field
Greece
EnFrGreek Medical/Mechanical/Legal
Native in: Greek (Variant: Modern) , Greek (Ancient) (Variants: Koine (common), Doric, Homeric, Ionic, Aeolic) 
Works in: French to Greek, Greek to French, English to Greek, and 5 more.
English term (edited):
Forensics have squared off on both crime scenes
Les gendarmes de la criminalistique se sont emparés des deux scènes de crime
https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/forensics
https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/pjgn/actualite/vu-...
Série en exclusivité "Les jours" : à chaque crime, il y a une technique pour confondre le coupable. Deux journalistes de "les jours" en immersion au PJGN ont pu se glisser sous le microscope de l'Institut de recherche criminelle de la Gendarmerie nationale (IRCGN) pour raconter de l'intérieur les plus grandes enquêtes sur des meurtres que la science a aidé à résoudre.
Découvrez ici la seconde et dernière partie de l'épisode consacré à Laëtitia Perrais, les gendarmes et les quatre scènes de crime. «Les Jours» s’installent dans le labo de la gendarmerie, pour raconter de l’intérieur comment la science aide à résoudre les meurtres...
A l'issue de la soutenance de thèse, le Jury autorise l'impression de la
thèse de M. Yves Schuliar, candidat au doctorat en sciences forensiques,
intitulée
« La coordination scientifique dans les investigations criminelles.
Proposition d’organisation, aspects éthiques ou de la nécessité d’un
nouveau métier. »
(...) Au professeur Olivier RIBAUX, pour avoir accepté de faire partie de ce jury, pour la qualité
de son enseignement et pour m’avoir fait découvrir, aux côtés du professeur Pierre Margot,
toute la richesse et la puissance du renseignement forensique. (on pourrait dire donc les gendarmes de la criminalistique en tant que : les forensiques)
https://www.unil.ch/files/live/sites/esc/files/shared/These_...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 ώρες (2022-05-12 12:09:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Excusez-moi, mais je croyais que c'est une question d'anglais en français. Toutefois, j'espère que ça sera aider dans un certain point..
https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/pjgn/actualite/vu-...
Série en exclusivité "Les jours" : à chaque crime, il y a une technique pour confondre le coupable. Deux journalistes de "les jours" en immersion au PJGN ont pu se glisser sous le microscope de l'Institut de recherche criminelle de la Gendarmerie nationale (IRCGN) pour raconter de l'intérieur les plus grandes enquêtes sur des meurtres que la science a aidé à résoudre.
Découvrez ici la seconde et dernière partie de l'épisode consacré à Laëtitia Perrais, les gendarmes et les quatre scènes de crime. «Les Jours» s’installent dans le labo de la gendarmerie, pour raconter de l’intérieur comment la science aide à résoudre les meurtres...
A l'issue de la soutenance de thèse, le Jury autorise l'impression de la
thèse de M. Yves Schuliar, candidat au doctorat en sciences forensiques,
intitulée
« La coordination scientifique dans les investigations criminelles.
Proposition d’organisation, aspects éthiques ou de la nécessité d’un
nouveau métier. »
(...) Au professeur Olivier RIBAUX, pour avoir accepté de faire partie de ce jury, pour la qualité
de son enseignement et pour m’avoir fait découvrir, aux côtés du professeur Pierre Margot,
toute la richesse et la puissance du renseignement forensique. (on pourrait dire donc les gendarmes de la criminalistique en tant que : les forensiques)
https://www.unil.ch/files/live/sites/esc/files/shared/These_...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 ώρες (2022-05-12 12:09:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Excusez-moi, mais je croyais que c'est une question d'anglais en français. Toutefois, j'espère que ça sera aider dans un certain point..
1 day 15 hrs
Anastasia Kalantzi
Greece
Greece
Works in field
Greece
EnFrGreek Medical/Mechanical/Legal
Native in: Greek (Variant: Modern) , Greek (Ancient) (Variants: Koine (common), Doric, Homeric, Ionic, Aeolic)
Works in: French to Greek, Greek to French, English to Greek, and 5 more.
the crime scenes have been secured or the forensics cordonned off both crime scenes
Part 3) Securing the Crime Scene:
The crime scene may already have been secured by the uniformed police officer who first attended the scene, but if not, the CSI will need to cordon off the scene to ensure that no person is able to access the scene after it has been secured. When the scene has been secured, it is said to be owned by the police, and it will not be returned to its original owner until after it has been thoroughly examined, and all necessary physical evidence has been recovered. In very serious crimes such as a murder, or suspicious death, an inner and outer cordon may need to be established, with the inner cordon surrounding the core of the scene (where the body is lying) and an outer cordon surrounding a much wider area in which evidence might reasonably be expected to be found. In less serious crimes, such as volume crime (e.g., burglary), no cordon is usually needed, and the CSI simply works within the confines of the property that has to be examined.
https://www.castleviewuk.com/ch1-securing.html
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Note added at 1 ημέρα 15 ώρες (2022-05-13 11:47:52 GMT)
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*sorry for the spelling error : cordoned off
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 ημέρα 15 ώρες (2022-05-13 12:13:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
COVERING SPACE: HOW TO OBSERVE USING A PATTERN
If you've ever read a crime novel or watched a forensic investigation show, you've probably heard the characters talk about WALKING THE GRID. They SQUARE OFF a crime scene and methodically walk back and forth, moving from west to east, east to west, and back again until they've covered the whole square. Then they do the same thing again, this time moving north to south, south to north, and back again. Walking the grid allows them to catch every detail in every inch of the crime scene. [continue to read further down]
https://books.google.gr/books?id=1QSeCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA70&lpg=PA...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 ημέρα 17 ώρες (2022-05-13 13:20:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
THIS IS THE ''ON'' ON WICH TONY HAS BEEN REFERRED TO, the preposition ON is literally referring to the GRID CANVAS or PAPER wherein both crimes' investigation is taking place:
You've now got a grid on your work surface that perfectly matches the grid of your reference photo. Bravo!
Because this painting will be the exact size as the reference photo, the squares on this canvas are also 1 square inch. If this painting was going to be 10" x 14", then the squares would need to be 2 square inches, because:Grid Method Math
See?
Basically, to enlarge the image, you'll need to do this kind of math (even if you hate math!). It's necessary in order to make sure the enlargement is exactly proportionate to the original. If you're not sure whether you've done the math correctly, just count the number of squares in each row and in each column, and ask yourself:
Are there an equal number of rows and columns on the canvas as there are on the reference photo? https://www.art-is-fun.com/grid-method
The crime scene may already have been secured by the uniformed police officer who first attended the scene, but if not, the CSI will need to cordon off the scene to ensure that no person is able to access the scene after it has been secured. When the scene has been secured, it is said to be owned by the police, and it will not be returned to its original owner until after it has been thoroughly examined, and all necessary physical evidence has been recovered. In very serious crimes such as a murder, or suspicious death, an inner and outer cordon may need to be established, with the inner cordon surrounding the core of the scene (where the body is lying) and an outer cordon surrounding a much wider area in which evidence might reasonably be expected to be found. In less serious crimes, such as volume crime (e.g., burglary), no cordon is usually needed, and the CSI simply works within the confines of the property that has to be examined.
https://www.castleviewuk.com/ch1-securing.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 ημέρα 15 ώρες (2022-05-13 11:47:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
*sorry for the spelling error : cordoned off
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 ημέρα 15 ώρες (2022-05-13 12:13:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
COVERING SPACE: HOW TO OBSERVE USING A PATTERN
If you've ever read a crime novel or watched a forensic investigation show, you've probably heard the characters talk about WALKING THE GRID. They SQUARE OFF a crime scene and methodically walk back and forth, moving from west to east, east to west, and back again until they've covered the whole square. Then they do the same thing again, this time moving north to south, south to north, and back again. Walking the grid allows them to catch every detail in every inch of the crime scene. [continue to read further down]
https://books.google.gr/books?id=1QSeCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA70&lpg=PA...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 ημέρα 17 ώρες (2022-05-13 13:20:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
THIS IS THE ''ON'' ON WICH TONY HAS BEEN REFERRED TO, the preposition ON is literally referring to the GRID CANVAS or PAPER wherein both crimes' investigation is taking place:
You've now got a grid on your work surface that perfectly matches the grid of your reference photo. Bravo!
Because this painting will be the exact size as the reference photo, the squares on this canvas are also 1 square inch. If this painting was going to be 10" x 14", then the squares would need to be 2 square inches, because:Grid Method Math
See?
Basically, to enlarge the image, you'll need to do this kind of math (even if you hate math!). It's necessary in order to make sure the enlargement is exactly proportionate to the original. If you're not sure whether you've done the math correctly, just count the number of squares in each row and in each column, and ask yourself:
Are there an equal number of rows and columns on the canvas as there are on the reference photo? https://www.art-is-fun.com/grid-method
Reference comments
13 hrs
Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Hungary
Works in field
Hungary
sworn translator, linguist, DPO
Native in: Hungarian (Variant: Hungary)
Works in: Russian to Hungarian, Hungarian to Russian, Latvian to Russian, and 10 more.
Reference:
just FYI
I am not an English native but I work for the police often. IMHO, (lack of context!) squared off has two meanings:
1. direct: When a police arrives to a particular site with massive forces in order to disperse a crowd.
Example:
ABC News
@ABC
Police and protesters squared off outside Barcelona's airport after the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced prominent Catalan separatists to lengthy prison terms.
Dozens of people were treated for injuries and more than 100 flights were canceled. https://abcn.ws/2BdDUTM
1. In your text, indirect: forensics arrive to and stretch a tape around the crime scene to surround the crime scene
Crime Scene Investigation: Introduction - Forensic Science ...
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org › csi
A body washes up on a lonely stretch of beach. ... A deceased man surrounded by crime scene tape and investigators collecting evidence items.
An effort must be made to disturb things as little as possible in assessing the situation. Particular attention should be paid to the floor since this is the most common repository for evidence and it poses the greatest potential for contamination. Notes should also be taken if the officer has to alter something in the investigation. Some things the officer should note include: the condition of the doors, windows, and lighting (both natural and manmade); if there are any odors present; if there are any signs of activity; how EMS or fire personnel have altered the scene; anything essential about the suspect (description, statements, physical condition, mental condition, intoxication, etc.); and anything essential about the victim. Once the scene has been stabilized, the scene and any other areas which may yield valuable evidence (driveways, surrounding yards, pathways, etc.) should be roped off to prevent unauthorized people from entering the area and potentially contaminating it. Investigators and other necessary personnel should be contacted and dispatched to the scene, however, under no circumstances should the telephone at the scene be used. Once the officer has secured the scene, he or she could do the following: record witness names and others who may have entered or been at the scene; separate witnesses and suspect(s); do not discuss the events or the crime with witnesses or bystanders or let the witnesses discuss these events; listen attentively but discreetly; and protect evidence which may be in danger of being destroyed. Any actions taken should be reported to the investigators. https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/evidenc1.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 nap 3 óra (2022-05-13 00:08:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I try to explain. Natives will correct.
Any sentence logically can be broken down to parts.
Forensics (=>who? subject)
have squared off (=>predicate)
on both crime scenes (=>locative).
Predicative prepositional phrase.
Maybe the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Maybe the person who wrote it made a typo. I do not know. But the meaning it conveys is obvious and crystal clear (even a non-native can understand; see 80/20 rule).
1. direct: When a police arrives to a particular site with massive forces in order to disperse a crowd.
Example:
ABC News
@ABC
Police and protesters squared off outside Barcelona's airport after the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced prominent Catalan separatists to lengthy prison terms.
Dozens of people were treated for injuries and more than 100 flights were canceled. https://abcn.ws/2BdDUTM
1. In your text, indirect: forensics arrive to and stretch a tape around the crime scene to surround the crime scene
Crime Scene Investigation: Introduction - Forensic Science ...
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org › csi
A body washes up on a lonely stretch of beach. ... A deceased man surrounded by crime scene tape and investigators collecting evidence items.
An effort must be made to disturb things as little as possible in assessing the situation. Particular attention should be paid to the floor since this is the most common repository for evidence and it poses the greatest potential for contamination. Notes should also be taken if the officer has to alter something in the investigation. Some things the officer should note include: the condition of the doors, windows, and lighting (both natural and manmade); if there are any odors present; if there are any signs of activity; how EMS or fire personnel have altered the scene; anything essential about the suspect (description, statements, physical condition, mental condition, intoxication, etc.); and anything essential about the victim. Once the scene has been stabilized, the scene and any other areas which may yield valuable evidence (driveways, surrounding yards, pathways, etc.) should be roped off to prevent unauthorized people from entering the area and potentially contaminating it. Investigators and other necessary personnel should be contacted and dispatched to the scene, however, under no circumstances should the telephone at the scene be used. Once the officer has secured the scene, he or she could do the following: record witness names and others who may have entered or been at the scene; separate witnesses and suspect(s); do not discuss the events or the crime with witnesses or bystanders or let the witnesses discuss these events; listen attentively but discreetly; and protect evidence which may be in danger of being destroyed. Any actions taken should be reported to the investigators. https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/evidenc1.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 nap 3 óra (2022-05-13 00:08:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I try to explain. Natives will correct.
Any sentence logically can be broken down to parts.
Forensics (=>who? subject)
have squared off (=>predicate)
on both crime scenes (=>locative).
Predicative prepositional phrase.
Maybe the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Maybe the person who wrote it made a typo. I do not know. But the meaning it conveys is obvious and crystal clear (even a non-native can understand; see 80/20 rule).
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| disagree |
Tony M
: In EN, 'to square off' speficially means 'to prepare to confront' — whether that means 'draw up lines', 'present fists', etc. And here, it is nothing to do with 'squaring off' in the sense of 'marking out squares' — the 'on' would preclude that.
1 hr
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On is related to the crime scenes. For God's sake, please stop.
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| agree |
ezpz
: i'm sorry to disagree with tony, but I think Erzsébet's second suggested meaning is correct. this is likely journalistic/reporter english, which is often ambiguous. i think the text refers literally to the marking of the crime scene for forensic analysis.
2 hrs
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Thank you very much, ezpz!
|
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| agree |
Anastasia Kalantzi
2 hrs
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Thank you very much, Anastasia!
|
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| agree |
Clauwolf
5 hrs
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Thank you very much, Clauwolf!
|
Discussion
I feel sure that the meaning require here is speical, but dependent on the surrounding context.
"The Strip Method - In this method two or three searchers travel parallel to each other along a baseline, and back and forth until they reach the opposite limit of the squared-off area." Page 19
https://books.google.co.uk/books?redir_esc=y&id=YOIJAQAAMAAJ...
"The area can be roped off into a grid, each square representing a given search area."
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Techniques_of_Crime_S... (page 58)
However, as Tony points out, without a bit more context, the word 'on' could completely change the meaning.
If they had 'completed their work', one might say 'they signed off on...' — but I've never heard this expression for that (US, perhaps?)
Unless it still has the sense of 'confront' , i.e. here; "got down to business / got stuck in" etc.
Impossible really to know, without having the wider context of what happened next... I get the impression we could have a situation here where it means "starting something" — or perhaps "ending something"!!