bring (someone or something) to
bring (someone or something) to
1. To cause someone to regain consciousness. After Lily fainted, we used smelling salts to bring her to.
2. To stop a vessel from moving. We're getting close to the dock, so bring the boat to.
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!
See also: bring
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
bring one to oneself
to cause one to become rational; to cause one to act normal. A glass of ice water thrown in her face brought Sally to herself. I was brought to myself by some smelling salts.
See also: bring, one
bring someone to
to help someone return to consciousness. We worked to bring him to before he went into shock. He was finally brought to by the smelling salts.
See also: bring
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
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.
See also: bring
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
bring to
v.
1. To cause a ship to turn toward the wind or come to a stop: Some lines were dragging overboard, so we brought the ship to and hauled them in again.
2. To cause someone to recover consciousness: I fainted, but the smelling salts brought me to right away.
See also: bring
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- come to
- come to oneself
- bring (someone or something) to life
- bring somebody/something to life
- bring to life
- bring around
- come (a)round
- come around
- come round
- bring round