bring up
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle up
Meanings
Mention or raise a topic
Why “up”? A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“Don't bring up politics at dinner.”
“He brought up the budget during the call.”
“Leo brought up the late delivery during the office meeting.”
Memory hook
You lift the topic up so everyone can see it.
Common mistake
She brought up about the budget.
She brought up the budget.
Bring up (raise a topic) takes the object directly — no about.
Natural collocations
The word partners “bring up” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
In conversation
Did anyone mention the deadline?
Yes, Sara brought it up in the meeting.
Don't confuse with
Bring up means start talking about a topic. Bring out means make a quality easy to see.
Bring up means mention or raise a topic. Bring down means make something lower in level or amount.
Test yourself
“Don't bring up politics at dinner.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
bring down
A contrast learners often mix up
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
bring out
A contrast learners often mix up
Make a quality or feature more obvious; Publish or launch a new product; Cause a particular response or behaviour in someone; Take something out of a container or place to show it; Encourage a shy person to be more confident
blow up
Same up pattern: appearance
Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious
call up
Same up pattern: appearance
Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team
catch up
Same up pattern: appearance
Reach the same level or position as someone ahead; Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed; (of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences; Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart
clear up
Same up pattern: appearance
Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem
come up
Same up pattern: appearance
Arise as a topic or event; Create an idea or plan, or find an answer
crop up
Same up pattern: appearance
Appear unexpectedly in a situation
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