All phrasal verbs

bring

/brɪŋ/8 phrasal verbs

The plain verb means to carry something toward the speaker.

BRING is TAKE's mirror — the movement is toward you rather than away.

Bring up is the one to watch because it has two very different senses: raise a child, and mention a topic. Both are “bring to the surface”, which is a useful way to hold them together. Keep it apart from bring about (cause) and bring on (cause something bad).

Side by side

Every BRING phrasal verb, with the one line that keeps it apart from its siblings. Tap any one to open it.

Phrasal verbMeansHow to remember it
bring upSeparable2 meaningsraise a child; mention a topic in conversationUP = raise — a child, or a subject.
bring backSeparable2 meaningsreturn something; revive a memoryBACK = it returns from the past.
bring aboutSeparablecause something to happenABOUT = you bring the situation around.
bring inSeparable2 meaningsintroduce something new; earn moneyIN = it enters the organisation.
bring outSeparable2 meaningsrelease a product; reveal a hidden qualityOUT = it becomes visible to everyone.
bring downSeparable3 meaningscause to fall; make someone sadDOWN = from high to low.
bring alongSeparabletake someone or something with youALONG = travelling with you.
bring onSeparablecause something unpleasantON = you bring it onto yourself.
Phrasal verbs with BRING — what each one means