English

Verb

bring up ‎(third-person singular simple present brings up, present participle bringing up, simple past and past participle brought up)

1. Used other than as an idiom: To bring from a lower position to a higher position..
   • 1953, United States Supreme Court, John Den ex dem. Archibald Russell v. The Association of the Jersey Company, reprinted in the United States Reports, volume 56, page 426:

     This case was brought up by writ of error from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey.

   When you're in the basement, can you bring up the paints?‎

2. To mention.

   Don't bring up politics if you want to have a quiet conversation with that guy.‎

3. To raise (children).
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess:

     ‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”. […]’.

   She did well enough bringing up two sons and a daughter on her own.‎

4. To uncover, to bring from obscurity.

   A short Internet search brought up some amazing details of this story.‎

5. To turn on power or start, as of a machine.

   Wait a minute while I bring up my computer.‎

6. To vomit.

   I was very ill today; I kept bringing up everything I ate.‎

7. To stop or interrupt a flow or steady motion.
   • 1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, 1992 Bantam edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 91:

     " […] Mr. Wolfe, I beg you—I beg of you—"

     I was sure she was going to cry and I didn't want her to. But Wolfe brusquely brought her up:

     "That's all, Miss Barstow. […] "

   • 1999, Alice Borchardt, Night of the Wolf, Ballantine, ISBN 0345423631, page 260 :

     "No," Maeniel shouted, "No!" trying to distract the man, and lunged toward him. The chain on his ankle brought him up short and he fell on his face.

Related terms

• (raise children): upbringing
• bring up the rear
• bring up to

Translations

Anagrams

• burping, upbring