bring up

From Middle English bring up, dissimilated from Middle English upbringen (“to bring up, raise”). Doublet of upbring.

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

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bring,‎ up: To bring from a lower to a higher position.

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

   • 1951 February, Michael Robbins, “Sir Walter Scott and Two Early Railway Schemes”, in Railway Magazine, page 90:

     " […] and as Mr. H., with his long purse and his willingness to receive hints, is no bad card in the game, he has been brought up to Abbotsford for a week; his taciturnity has long ago fled, and he is one of the most loquacious Borderers going. […] "

   • 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.

2. To mention.

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

3. To raise or rear (children).
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     ‘ […] 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; to resurface (e.g. a memory)

   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, Bantam, published 1992, →ISBN, 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, 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.

8. (cricket) To reach a particular score, especially a milestone.

   Warner smacked a four over midwicket to bring up his century.

9. To legally charge and put on trial.
   • 2001, Susan Stryker, Queer Pulp, page 14:

     The book [The Gilded Hearse] was brought up on obscenity charges, partly as a result of the gay content, but a New York magistrate dismissed the charges.

• (uncover, resurface): bring back

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

• burping, upbring