What Does โBring sb aroundโ Mean?
โBring sb aroundโ means to persuade someone to agree with you or to make someone regain consciousness.
Introduction
The phrase โbring sb aroundโ is a common English phrasal verb with two main meanings. First, it can mean persuading someone to change their opinion or agree with your point of view. Second, it refers to helping someone regain consciousness after fainting or being unconscious. Understanding the bring sb around meaning is useful for both everyday conversations and more formal discussions. This phrase is often used in spoken English, making it important for learners to recognize and use it correctly. In this article, you will learn how to use โbring sb aroundโ with real examples, common mistakes to avoid, and useful tips to improve your English skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bring somebody around
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: persuade someone or help someone regain consciousness
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBring sb aroundโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb) between โbringโ and โaroundโ or after โaround.โ
- Bring someone around
- Bring around someone
Examples:
- She brought him around to her way of thinking.
- She brought around him to her way of thinking.
How to Use โBring sb aroundโ?
Use โbring sb aroundโ when you want to describe the act of convincing someone to accept your idea or opinion. It is often used in informal and formal contexts. You can also use it literally when talking about helping someone wake up after fainting or being unconscious.
Examples of contexts:
- Negotiating or debating: โIt took a long time, but I finally brought her around.โ
- Medical or emergency situations: โThe nurse brought the patient around after the accident.โ
Examples
- It was hard to bring him around to our plan, but eventually, he agreed.
- After fainting, the doctor helped bring her around quickly.
- We need to bring the client around before the meeting ends.
- He was unconscious for a while, but the paramedics brought him around.
- Bring sb around in a sentence: โCan you bring him around to your idea?โ
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I bring around him to agree with me.
Correct: I brought him around to agree with me. - Incorrect: She bring somebody around the room.
Correct: She brought somebody around after fainting.
Differences / Synonyms
- Bring sb around vs. convince sb: Both mean persuading, but โbring sb aroundโ often implies a longer process.
- Bring sb around vs. wake sb up: โWake sb upโ means to make someone stop sleeping, but โbring sb aroundโ is used when someone is unconscious or fainted.
- Bring sb round: This is the British English version of โbring sb around.โ
Common Collocations
- bring someone around to an idea
- bring someone around to your way of thinking
- bring someone around after fainting
- bring someone around to agree
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bring sb around:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I donโt think John will agree with our proposal.
Ben: Donโt worry, I think I can bring him around after we explain the benefits.
Anna: That would be great. We need his support.
Ben: Also, did you hear about the accident? The paramedics brought the driver around quickly.
Anna: Yes, I hope heโs okay now.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โbring sb aroundโ:
- It took some time, but I finally _______ her _______ to my opinion.
- The nurse _______ the patient _______ after he fainted.
- Can you _______ him _______ to see things differently?
FAQs
- Q: Can โbring sb aroundโ be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, especially when discussing persuasion or medical situations.
- Q: Is โbring sb aroundโ the same as โconvince someoneโ?
A: They are similar, but โbring sb aroundโ often suggests a gradual change.
- Q: Can I say โbring sb aroundโ if someone wakes up naturally?
A: No, it usually means helping someone regain consciousness.
- Q: What is the British English form of this phrasal verb?
A: โBring sb roundโ is the British English equivalent.
- Q: Is โbring sb aroundโ separable?
A: Yes, you can place the object between โbringโ and โaroundโ or after โaround.โ

