bring

views updated May 17 2018

bring / bring/ • v. (past brought / brôt/ ) [tr.] come to a place with (someone or something): she brought Luke home from the hospital. ∎  cause (someone or something) to come to a place: what brings you here? a felony case brought before a jury. ∎  make (someone or something) move in a particular direction or way: heavy rain brought down part of the ceiling. ∎  cause (something): the bad weather brought famine her letter brought forth a torrent of criticism. ∎  cause (someone or something) to be in or change to a particular state or condition: I'll give you some aspirin to bring down his temperature his approach brought him into conflict with government. ∎  (bring someone in) involve (someone) in a particular activity: he has brought in a consultant. ∎  initiate (legal action) against someone: riot and conspiracy charges should be brought against them. ∎  (bring oneself to do something) force oneself to do something unpleasant or distressing: she could not bring herself to mention it. ∎  cause someone to receive (an amount of money) as income or profit: two important Chippendale lots brought $10,000 each.PHRASES: bring the house down make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause.bring something into play cause something to begin operating or to have an effect; activate.bring something to bear exert influence or pressure so as to cause a particular result: he was released after pressure had been brought to bear by the aid agencies.bring someone to booksee book.bring someone/something to mind cause one to remember or think of someone or something: all that marble brought to mind a mausoleum.bring something to pass chiefly poetic/lit. cause something to happen.PHRASAL VERBS: bring something about1. cause something to happen: she brought about a revolution.2. cause a ship to head in a different direction.bring something back cause something to return. ∎  reintroduce something: bringing back capital punishment would solve nothing.bring someone down cause someone to fall over, esp. by tackling them during a football game or rugby match. ∎  cause someone to lose power: the vote will not bring down the government.bring someone/something down cause an animal or person to fall over by shooting them. ∎  cause an aircraft or bird to fall from the sky by shooting it.bring something forward1. move a meeting or event to an earlier date or time.2. [often as adj.] (brought forward) in bookkeeping, transfer a total sum from the bottom of one page to the top of the next: a profit and loss balance brought forward of $5,000,000.3. propose a plan, subject, or idea for consideration.bring something in1. introduce something, esp. a new law or product: Congress brought in reforms to prevent abuse of presidential power.2. make or earn a particular amount of money: their fund-raising efforts have brought in more than $1 million.3. (of a jury) give a decision in court: the jury brought in a unanimous verdict.bring something off achieve something successfully: a good omelet is very hard to bring off.bring something on cause something, typically something unpleasant, to occur or develop: ulcers are not brought on by a rich diet. ∎  (bring something on/upon) be responsible for something, typically something unpleasant, that happens to oneself or someone else: the doom that he has brought upon himself.bring something out produce and launch a new product or publication: the band is bringing out a video. ∎  make something more evident; emphasize something: the shawl brings out the color of your eyes he brought out the best in his team.bring someone around1. restore someone to consciousness.2. persuade someone to do something, esp. to adopt one's own point of view: my wife has brought me around to eating broiled grouper.bring someone to restore someone to consciousness.bring someone up look after a child until it is an adult. ∎  (be brought up) be taught as a child to adopt particular behavior or attitudes: he had been brought up to believe that marriage was forever.bring something up1. vomit something.2. raise a matter for discussion or consideration: she tried repeatedly to bring up the subject of marriage.DERIVATIVES: bring·er n.

bring

views updated May 17 2018

bring OE. bringan = OS., OHG. bringan (G. bringen), Goth. briggan :- Gmc. *brenʒan.

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