163
bring sthg. ⇔ about phr v [T] to cause to happen: Science has brought about many changes in our lives. | The increase in business activity was brought about by the fall in oil prices.
bring sbdy. around/round phr v [T] 1 [(to)] also bring over — to persuade into a change of opinion: I'm sure we'll be able to bring him around to our point of view. 2 also bring to — to cause to regain consciousness: She opened all the windows in the hope of bringing him round.
bring sbdy./sthg. ⇔ back phr v [T] 1 to cause to return: All library books must be brought back before June 20. | If I go with you in your car, will you be able to bring me back? | Even if the Republicans abolish the tax, the Democrats would be sure to bring it back. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Bring us back our books, please. 2 to obtain and return with: He brought some beautiful carpets back from Iran. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] When you go to the post office, will you bring me back some stamps/bring me some stamps back/bring some stamps back for me? 3 to cause to return to the mind: Hearing the song brought back happy memories. | Seeing her again brought it all back.
bring sbdy./sthg. ⇔ down phr v [T] 1 to cause to fall or come down: The pilot brought the plane down gently. | He brought the bird down with one shot. | The good harvest brought down the price of strawberries. | Don't try to bring me down (=to lower my behaviour) to your level. 2 slang to discourage or disappoint → see also bring the house down (HOUSE¹)
bring sthg. ⇔ down on sbdy. phr v [T] to cause (something bad) to happen to: His reckless spending brought down disaster on his whole family.
bring forth sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] old use to produce, especially give birth to: 'Bring forth men children only.' (Shakespeare, Macbeth)
bring sthg. ⇔ forward phr v [T] 1 also put forward to introduce or produce for examination; show: A plan was brought forward to allow workers to share in the profits. | Can you bring forward any proof of your story? 2 to bring (something in the future) nearer to the present time: The election will be brought forward from July to June. 3 (in BOOKKEEPING) to move (the total at the bottom of the last page) to the top of a list of figures, before adding in the figures on the new page
bring sbdy./sthg. ⇔ in phr v [T] 1 to cause to come in; introduce: to bring in a bill in Parliament | They brought experienced people in to help. | The policeman brought in (=to the police station) two boys he had caught stealing. | Everyone who is going to work on the project should be brought in on it (=should take part in it) from the planning stage. 2 to produce as profit or income; earn: The sale brought in over £200. | She's bringing in £250 a week. 3 to give (a decision) in court: The jury brought in a verdict of guilty.
bring sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T] to succeed in doing (something difficult): to bring off a big business deal
bring sthg. ⇔ on phr v [T] 1 to cause or result in (an undesirable condition or situation): Her fever was brought on by going out in the rain. | The crisis in our industry was brought on by intense competition from foreign producers. 2 to cause to develop or improve: This warm weather should bring on the crops. | A month in London will bring on your English.
bring sthg. on/upon sbdy. phr v [T] to cause (something unpleasant) to happen to: You've brought the trouble on yourself.
bring sbdy./sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] 1 to present (a new product) to the public; introduce for sale: They're bringing out a new model of the car next year. | A special issue of the magazine was brought out to commemorate the occasion. 2 to cause to be seen; make clear: The increased responsibility brought out her best qualities. | That friend of his seems to bring out the worst in him. 3 also draw out — to help (someone) feel less nervous or awkward in the company of others: Mary is very shy; try to bring her out at the party. 4 especially BrE to cause (workers) to go on STRIKE: They're threatened to bring the men out if their demands aren't met.
bring sbdy. out in phr v [T] BrE to cause to suffer the stated skin condition: Eating a lot of cheese always brings me out in spots. | Strawberries bring him out in a rash.
bring sbdy. ⇔ round phr v [T] to BRING around
bring sbdy. through (sthg.) phr v [T] to cause to come successfully through (a difficult or dangerous situation): The doctor brought him through (a serious illness). | The people's courage brought them through (the war). → see also PULL THROUGH
bring sbdy./sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] 1 to educate and care for (a child) until grown-up: to bring up children | well/badly brought up | She was brought up to believe that money is the most important thing in life. 2 to mention or bring to attention (a subject): Don't bring up that embarrassing topic. → compare COME UP 3 especially BrE to VOMIT (one's food): He brought up his dinner. 4 bring someone up short to cause to stop suddenly: I was about to enter the room, when I was brought up short by a note on the door. → see also bring up the rear (REAR¹)
,bring-and-'buy ,sale also ,bring-and-'buy n BrE a sale, usually to raise money for a CHARITY, where people bring goods to be sold and buy goods brought by other people
brink /brɪŋk/ n [the+(of)] 1 an edge, for example at the top of a cliff or a river: They stood on the brink of the Grand Canyon. 2 as far as one can go without actually being in a condition or situation; VERGE: His failures brought him to the brink of (=dangerously near) ruin. | a rare animal on the brink of extinction
brink·man·ship /'brɪŋkmənʃɪp/ BrE || brinks·man·ship /'brɪŋksmən-/ AmE — n [U] the art of trying to gain an advantage by going to the limit of safety, especially in international politics, before stopping
brin·y /'brɪni/ n [the S] lit or humor the sea
bri·oche /'bri:ɒʃ, bri:'əʊʃ||bri:'oʊʃ, -'o:ʃ/ n a small cake made with a lot of eggs and butter
bri·quette /bri'ket/ n coal dust pressed into a block for burning in a fireplace
Bris·bane /'brizbən/ a port and the capital city of Queensland state in the east of Australia, the third largest city in the country → see picture at AUSTRALIA
brisk /brɪsk/ adj 1 quick and active: a brisk walker/walk | a brisk manner | ice-cream vendors doing brisk business during the heat wave 2 (especially of wind and air) pleasantly cold and strong —ly adv —ness n [U]
bris·ket /'brɪskɪt/ n [U] meat from an animal's chest
bris·tle¹ /'brɪsəl/ n [C;U] (a) short stiff hair: His chin was covered with bristles. | The brush is made of animal bristle(s).
bristle² v [I(UP, at, with)] (of an animal's hair or fur) to stand up stiffly (for example because of anger, distrust etc): The dog's hair bristled (up) when the visitors came to the door. | (fig.) They bristled (with anger) at his denigrating description of their activities.
bristle with sthg. phr v to have plenty of (especially something unpleasant or unattractive); be full of: The streets bristled with armed guards after the latest terrorist attack.
bris·tly /'brɪsli/ adj 1 like or full of bristles: a bristly chin 2 difficult to deal with because easily angered or annoyed
Bris·tol /'brɪstl/ an industrial city and international port in the southwest of England, where the local government for Avon is based. The CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE is in Bristol.
,Bristol 'Channel, the n an area of water between South Wales and southwest England which goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the mouth of the River Severn
,Bristol 'Cream trademark a type of very sweet SHERRY which is made by Harvey's; it is one of the best-known types of sherry in the UK
Brit /brɪt/ n infml a British person: There were five of us - three Brits and two Americans. → see also BRIT AWARDS
Bri·tain /'brɪtn/ Great Britain or the UK → see UK (USAGE); see also BATTLE OF BRITAIN