1take or go with (someone or something) to a place:she brought Luke home from hospital [with two objects]:Liz brought her a glass of water
cause (someone or something) to come to a place:what brings you here?a felony case brought before a jury figurativehis inner confidence has brought him through his ordeal
(bring someone in) involve (someone) in a particular activity:he has brought in a consultancy company
cause someone to receive (an amount of money) as income or profit:two important Chippendale lots brought £10,000 each [with two objects]:five more novels brought him £150,000
cause (someone or something) to move in a particular direction:he brought his hands out of his pocketsheavy rain brought down the ceiling
cause (something):the bad weather brought famine
2cause (someone or something) to be in a particular state or condition:an economic policy that would have brought the country to bankruptcyI’ll give you an aspirin to bring down your temperature
3initiate (legal action) against someone:riot and conspiracy charges should be brought against them
4 [usually with negative] (bring oneself to do something) force oneself to do something unpleasant:she could not bring herself to mention it
make an audience laugh or applaud very enthusiastically:he could bring the house down with his dry humour
bring it on
informal used to express confidence in meeting a challenge.
bring something to bear
1exert influence or pressure so as to achieve a particular result:they brought pressure to bear on him to resignshe had reservations about how much influence she could bring to bear
2aim a weapon:he brought his rifle to bear on a distant target
cause one to remember or think of someone or something:all that marble brought to mind a mausoleum
bring something to pass
chiefly literary cause something to happen:any man must at some point question whether it is chance or fate that brings things to pass
bring something to the table (or party)
contribute something of value to a discussion, project, etc.:consultants who can bring strategic thinking to the table
what brings you here?
for what reason have you come here?:so what brings you here at this time of night?
bring something about
1cause something to happen:she brought about a revolution in psychoanalysis
2cause a ship to head in a different direction:he brought the ship about in a stylish tack
bring something back
reintroduce something:bringing back capital punishment would solve nothing
cause something to return:the smell of the tiny church brought back every memory of my childhood
bring someone down
cause someone to lose power:the vote will not bring down the government
cause someone to fall over, especially by tackling them during a football or rugby match:Harris was brought down by Palmer on the edge of the box
make someone unhappy:she was in such a good mood I couldn’t bear to bring her down
bring someone/thing down
cause someone or something to fall over by shooting them:too bad he couldn’t bring the bear down with a clean shot
bring something forth
archaic give birth to something:why does Elsbeth not bring forth a child?
bring something forward
1move a meeting or event to an earlier date or time:the congress has been brought forward by a year
2 (often as adjective 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
3propose a plan or idea for consideration:I realize that when I bring forward proposals they will have to be judged on their merits
bring something in
1introduce a new law or product:Congress brought in reforms to prevent abuse of presidential power
2(of a jury) give a decision in court:the jury brought in a unanimous verdict
bring someone off
1rescue someone from a ship in difficulties:‘Any men been brought off yet?’ Joe asked one of the fishermen on the beach
2 vulgar slang give someone or oneself an orgasm.
bring something off
achieve something successfully:a good omelette is very hard to bring off
bring someone on
encourage someone who is learning something to develop or improve:Mr Edom thought well of him, and was bringing him on
bring something on
1cause something, typically something unpleasant, to occur:ulcers are not brought on by a rich diet
(bring something on/upon) be responsible for something unpleasant that happens to (oneself or someone else):he’s brought it upon himself—he’s not a victim
2(of the weather) promote the growth of crops.
bring someone out
1encourage someone to feel more confident:she needs friends to bring her out of herself
2British cause someone to go on strike:protest aimed at bringing out the miners who were still at work
bring something out
1produce and launch a new product or publication:the band are bringing out a video
2make something more evident; emphasize something:the shawl brings out the colour of your eyes
bring someone round (or USaround)
1 (also bring someone to) restore someone to consciousness:she administered artificial respiration and brought him round
2persuade someone to agree to something:she’s not keen, but I think I can bring her round
bring something to
cause a boat to stop, especially by turning into the wind.
bring up
(chiefly of a ship) come to a stop.
bring someone up
look after a child until it is an adult:she was partly brought up by her maternal grandparents
(be brought up) be taught as a child to adopt particular behaviour or attitudes:he had been brought up to believe that marriage was forever
bring something up
1vomit something:fortunately I brought up the poison
2raise a matter for discussion or consideration:she tried repeatedly to bring up the subject of money
