bring (one) to (oneself)
To cause one to resume acting or feeling as one normally does. I was starting to get disoriented after being awake for 36 hours straight, but a good night's rest brought me to myself. In the cartoons, a bump on the head is usually all it takes to bring one to oneself. Mary's a very nervous flier, so just the act of getting off this plane should bring her to herself.
bring (someone or oneself) to (do something)
1. To cause or inspire someone to take a particular action. A desire to help my community brought me to volunteer at the local soup kitchen. Your mother and I just cannot fathom what would bring you to disrespect us like that. I know, deep-down, that things have to seriously change in this town. That's what brought me to run for mayor.
2. To muster the courage or resolve to do something, typically something unpleasant or frightening. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun is used after "bring." I'm sorry, I just can't bring myself to eat snails. I know it's scary, but you have to bring yourself to ask your boss for a raise before he forgets that you coordinated that entire project yourself. You think I'm really gonna bring myself to hold a tarantula? Ha, that's a good one!
bring (someone or something) to
1. To cause someone to regain consciousness. After Lily fainted, we used smelling salts to bring her to. The patient was knocked out in a fight. What can we do to bring him to? I have no idea what happened. All I remember is being at dinner and then being brought to by a doctor in the emergency room.
2. To stop a vessel from moving. We're getting close to the dock, so bring the boat to. All right, men, drop the anchor and bring the ship to! I don't want to bring our ship to now that we've finally got a favorable wind.
3. To cause a total to reach a certain amount. Adding a drink brings your total to $8.49. I'm thrilled because my last payment brought the amount I still owe on that loan to less than $1,000! I know you like to get wine when we eat out, but it always seems to bring our bill to at least $100.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bring to
1. Restore to consciousness, as in
I'll see if these smelling salts will bring her to. Also see
bring around, def. 2.
2. Cause a vessel to stop by heading into the wind or some other means. For example, As they neared the anchorage, they brought the boat to. This usage was first recorded in 1753.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.