1
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Phrase(s): bring someone on
1. Lit. to bring someone out onto the stage. • Now, for the next act, I’m going to bring a chorus on, and I’m sure you’ll love them. • Bring on the clowns! 2. Fig. to arouse someone romantically or sexually. • Ted sought to bring Sally on, but she was uninterested. • He tried to bring on one of the guests., Phrase(s): bring something on someone
to cause something to go wrong for someone. • You brought it on yourself. Don’t complain. • Max brought this problem on all of us., Phrase(s): bring something (up)on oneself
to be the cause of one’s own trouble. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) • It’s your own fault. You brought it upon yourself. • You brought it all on yourself., Phrase(s): bring something on
1. to cause something to happen; to cause a situation to occur. • What brought this event on? • What brought on this catastrophe? 2. to cause a case or an attack of a disease. • What brought on your coughing fit? • Something in the air brought it on.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Cause to happen, produce, as in His cold brought on an asthma attack. This usage was first recorded in John Milton's Samson Agonistes (1671): "These evils . . . I myself have brought them on." Also see BRING ABOUT. 2. Cause to appear or bring into action, as in Bring on the jugglers. [Mid-1800s]
American Heritage Idioms