See: BURN ONE’S BRIDGES, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT,
WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
[brief]
See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD.
[bright and early]
{adj. phr.} Prompt and alert; on time and ready;
cheerful and on time or before time. •/He came down bright and early to
breakfast./ •/She arrived bright and early for the appointment./
[bring about]
{v.} To cause; produce; lead to. •/The war had brought
about great changes in living./ •/Drink brought about his downfall./
[bring around]
or [bring round]{v.} 1. {informal} To restore
to health or consciousness cure. •/He was quite ill, but good nursing brought
him around./ Compare: BRING TO(1). 2. To cause a change in thinking;
persuade; convince; make willing. •/After a good deal of discussion he
brought her round to his way of thinking./
[bringdown]
{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. (from "bring down",
past "brought down"). A critical or cutting remark said sarcastically in order
to deflate a braggard’s ego. •/John always utters the right bringdown when he
encounters a braggard./ 2. A person who depresses and saddens others by being
a chronic complainer. •/John is a regular bringdown./
[bring down]
{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To deflate
(someone’s ego). •/John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks./
2. To depress (someone). •/The funeral brought me down completely./
[bring down about one’s ears]
or [bring down around one’s ears] See:
ABOUT ONE’S EARS.
[bring down the house]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To start an audience
laughing or clapping enthusiastically. •/The principal’s story was funny in
itself and also touched their loyalties, so it brought down the house./
•/The President made a fine speech which brought down the house./
[bring home]
{v.} To show clearly; emphasize; make (someone) realize;
demonstrate. •/The accident caused a death in his family, and it brought home
to him the evil of drinking while driving./ •/A parent or teacher should
bring home to children the value and pleasure of reading./
[bring home the bacon]
{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To support your
family; earn the family living. •/He was a steady fellow, who always brought
home the bacon./ 2. To win a game or prize. •/The football team brought
home the bacon./
[bring in]
{v.} In baseball: To enable men on base to score, score.
•/Dick’s hit brought in both base runners./ •/A walk and a triple brought
in a run in the third inning./
[bring into line]
{v. phr.} To make someone conform to the accepted
standard. •/Sam had to be brought into line when he refused to take his muddy
shoes off the cocktail table./
[bring off]
{v.} To do (something difficult); perform successfully (an
act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). •/By
skillful discussion, Mr. White had brought off an agreement that had seemed
impossible to get./ •/He tried several times to break the high jump record,
and finally he brought it off./ Compare: PUT OVER(2).