beating the bounds
/ˌbiːtɪŋ ðə ˈbaʊndz/
/ˌbiːtɪŋ ðə ˈbaʊndz/
- an old custom, still kept in some parts of Britain, of marking the boundaries of a church parish by walking round them and hitting the ground, or certain boundary marks, with long sticks. The ceremony is performed once a year, usually on Ascension Day or before Easter.
Check pronunciation:
beating the bounds