bail out

bail someone or something out

Fig. to rescue someone or something from trouble or difficulty. (Based on bail someone out of jail.) The proposed law was in trouble, but Senator Todd bailed out the bill at the last minute. I was going to be late with my report, but my roommate lent a hand and bailed me out at the last minute.

See also: bail, out

bail something out 

1. to remove water from the bottom of a boat by dipping or scooping. Tom has to bail the boat out before we get in. You should always bail out a boat before using it.

2. to empty a boat of accumulated water. Would you bail this boat out? I will bail out the boat.

See also: bail, out

bail out (of something)

1. Lit. to jump out of an airplane with a parachute. John still remembers the first time he bailed out of a plane. When we get to 8,000 feet, we'll all bail out and drift down together. We'll open our parachutes at 2,000 feet.

2. Fig. to abandon a situation; to get out of something. John got tired of school, so he just bailed out. Please stay, Bill. You've been with us too long to bail out now.

See also: bail, out

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bail somebody out also bail out somebody

to help someone out of a difficult situation by providing money When the airlines began to fail, they asked the government to bail them out.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bail out (to use a container to remove water from a boat)

See also: bail, out

bail out (of something)

to stop doing something or being involved in something Bad working conditions have caused many nurses to bail out of the profession. The TV show triggered a number of protests, and some of the sponsors bailed out.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bail out (to jump out of an aircraft with a parachute)

See also: bail, out