What Does “Bring sth around” Mean?
“Bring sth around” means to persuade someone to change their opinion or to physically bring something to a place. It is a common phrasal verb used in different contexts.
Introduction
The phrase “bring sth around” has two main uses in English. First, it can mean convincing someone to agree with you or to change their mind. For example, if a friend disagrees with your idea but later agrees, you have “brought them around.” Second, it can mean physically carrying or bringing an object to a certain place or person. Understanding the bring sth around meaning helps learners use this phrasal verb correctly in both speaking and writing. It is very useful for everyday conversations, especially when discussing opinions or moving objects.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bring something around
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to persuade someone or to bring something to a place
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Bring sth around” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “bring” and “around” or after the whole phrase.
- Bring something around
- Bring around something
Examples:
- She brought the documents around to my office.
- He brought around a good argument.
How to Use “Bring sth around”?
Use “bring sth around” when you want to talk about convincing someone to change their opinion or when you physically deliver something. In conversations about opinions, it is often used with people as the object. When referring to objects, it means to carry or deliver them somewhere.
Examples
- It took some time, but I finally brought him around to my way of thinking.
- Can you bring around the laptop to the meeting room?
- She brought around the kids to see the new puppy.
- After explaining the benefits, they were brought around to accepting the plan.
- He brought around the package just before lunchtime.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I bring around my idea to him.
Correct: I brought him around to my idea. - Incorrect: Please bring around to me the book.
Correct: Please bring the book around to me.
Differences / Synonyms
Bring sth around vs bring sth over: “Bring sth over” usually means to carry something to the place where the speaker is, while “bring sth around” can also mean persuading someone.
Bring sth around vs win someone over: Both can mean persuading someone, but “win someone over” focuses more on gaining their support or trust, while “bring someone around” often implies changing their mind after some resistance.
Common Collocations
- bring around an argument
- bring around a person
- bring around the documents
- bring around a package
- bring around the idea
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bring sth around:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I don’t think John will agree with our proposal.
Mark: Don’t worry, I’ll try to bring him around during the meeting.
Anna: Great! Also, could you bring around the reports from the office?
Mark: Sure, I’ll bring them around before the meeting starts.
Practice
Fill in the blank:
- It took some time, but she finally ______ me ______ to her point of view.
- Please ______ the files ______ to my desk.
Answers: brought me around, bring the files around
FAQs
- Q: Can “bring sth around” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “I brought him around.” - Q: Is “bring around” separable?
A: Yes, you can place the object between “bring” and “around” or after. - Q: Does “bring sth around” only mean persuading?
A: No, it also means physically bringing something somewhere. - Q: Can it be used with people?
A: Yes, especially when persuading someone. - Q: Is it formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts.
