tions): Canada brought home the silver on a day when the op- ponent were simply better. bring one’s mind to something • bring something to mind bring one’s mind to something—direct one’s attention to smth.: Again, Phillips cannot bring his mind to touch the issue squarely; it keeps shying into side issues. bring something to mind—make a person recall smth.: It brought to mind an experience I had in Labrador this past summer when I was up there fishing. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase bring something to a head—1. bring smth. to an end; complete smth.: This brings to a head and culminates all the nameless massacres in Asia Minor. 2. cause smth. to reach a critical stage: Matters have been brought to a head in the peace talks; tomorrow they will either succeed or fail. bring one’s pigs to a bad market • bring one’s pigs to a fine market bring one’s pigs to a bad market—(UK dated) be unsuccessful; fail in an undertaking (also: bring one’s eggs to a bad market): Yet, desirous as the schoolmaster might be to send the spec- tators away in good humor, he brought his eggs to a bad mar - ket . bring one’s pigs to a fine market—(ironic) = bring one’s pigs to a bad market: In our way to our lodging, after a profound si- lence on both sides, Strap, with a hideous groan, observed that we had brought our pigs to a fine market . Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase drive one’s pigs to market—(UK dated) snore loudly: The sleeping men … went on driving their pigs to marke t for all they were worth. bring sand to the beach • sell snow to the Eskimos bring sand to the beach— come with a girlfriend or boyfriend to a party where there are plenty of single women and men: Actually, I don’t suggest bringing any significant other to a club—why bring sand to the beach . sell snow to the Eskimos—take goods, etc. to a place where they are already plentiful: It sounds as sensible as trying to sell snow to the Eskimos, but a Yorkshire company really believes it can persuade us to buy fresh air. bring shame on someone • put someone to shame bring shame on someone—bring discredit upon a person; dis- grace or dishonor a person: Bessie, whatever you do—don’t bring shame on the family like I have. put someone to shame—make smb. feel ashamed or humili- ated (by showing superior qualities): That she had not been put to shame and made to feel her unfortunate position seemed remarkable. bring someone back • bring someone back out bring someone back—make a person or animal come back to life: There was nothing that would bring Jimmy’s cat back . It was truly dead. bring someone back out—succeed in bringing a performer back onto the stage for applause: They brought her back out seven times, cheering and applauding. bring someone down • bring someone down a peg bring someone down—1. (also: bring someone to the ground) cause a person to come down or fall: In American football, you have to try to bring down your opponent. 2. (also: bring someone to the ground) defeat an enemy or an opponent: Tru- man wanted to bring down his rival in the next election and succeeded. 3. (also: bring someone down to earth) make a person return to reality (face unpleasant truth, etc.): This bad news brought me down quickly. bring someone down a peg—(also: bring someone down a peg or two) make smb. feel less important; snub or humiliate a person: Frederick has too high an opinion of himself; it’s time we brought him down a peg . See also: get someone down / take someone down. bring someone down to earth • bring someone to the ground bring someone down to earth—1. cause a pilot to descend: If you take your parachute you have a certain return ticket, and one that will bring you safely down to earth . 2. (also: bring someone down) make a person return to reality (face unpleasant truth, etc.): So I call for the bill. Which brings us down to earth with an ugly thud. bring someone to the ground—(also: bring someone down) 1. = bring someone down to earth 1: The ejection seat was used three times … it worked as planned and three times it brought the pilot to the ground dead! 2. knock smb. down: A crab- stick, which was all the weapon he had, brought the fellow to the ground with the first blow. 3. inflict a crushing defeat upon an opponent: This nation will not be brought to the ground by enemy action! bring someone into the picture • put someone in the picture bring someone into the picture—cause smb. to be involved in or concerned with a situation: “You may need me as a wit- ness….” “No Steve. Unless it becomes absolutely necessary to bring you into the picture , I think I’d rather not.” put someone in the picture—tell smb. about a situation; give a person all the relevant information: It might be a good idea if you and I had a preliminary talk about it first, so that I can put you in the picture . bring someone into the world • usher someone into the world bring someone into the world—1. give birth to a child: Do you know what the finest thing you’ve done is—aside from bringing Hugh into the world ? 2. (of a doctor) attend the birth of a child: I’ve known Mrs. Anderson a long time—brought her two children into the world —and she’s a fine little woman. usher someone into the world—introduce a person to social surroundings: It was about a year after the loss that I was ush - ered into the world . bring someone low • lay someone low bring someone low—defeat smb. or force into a humble po- sition: The cruel rulers were brought low by the determined action of the people. lay someone low—1. knock smb. to the ground: With one blow, the experienced fighter laid his young opponent low . 2. (of a disease) make a person take to bed (usually Passive): I’ve been laid low with this terrible cough most of the winter. 3. = bring someone low: Someone who all his life had played tennis and softball shouldn’t be thus laid low . bring someone to grief • give someone grief bring someone to grief—cause a person to experience mis- fortune, injury or ruin: He was noted for having a quick tem- per, which often brought him to grief . give someone grief—1. cause smb. pain or sorrow: This bite really gave me grief , and yet it is still a mildish bite from one of the less serious adder species. 2. criticize a person angrily: Both my wife and my daughter gave me grief about my diet and encouraged me to exercise more. bring one’s mind to something – 58 –