What Does “Bring sth around to sth” Mean?
“Bring sth around to sth” means to persuade someone to accept or agree with a new idea, opinion, or way of thinking.
Introduction
The phrase “bring sth around to sth” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone convinces another person to change their opinion or agree with a particular idea. Understanding the bring sth around to sth meaning helps learners improve their communication skills, especially in discussions or negotiations. This phrase often appears in everyday conversations, business meetings, and written texts. Knowing how to use it correctly allows you to express the process of gently persuading or influencing someone to see your point of view. Learning this phrase also enriches your vocabulary and helps you sound more natural in English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bring something around to something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to persuade someone to agree with an idea
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Bring sth around to sth” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “bring” and “around,” or after the entire phrase.
- bring something around to something
- bring around something to something
Examples:
- She brought her parents around to her plan.
- He brought around his friends to his opinion.
The phrase always requires an object (something) and a final target (to something).
How to Use “Bring sth around to sth”?
You use “bring sth around to sth” when talking about convincing or persuading someone to accept a new idea or change their mind. It often implies that the person was initially unwilling or unsure but finally agreed after some explanation or discussion.
This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts, such as debates, negotiations, or casual conversations.
Examples
- It took a long time, but I finally brought him around to my way of thinking.
- She tried to bring her boss around to the idea of flexible working hours.
- After much discussion, they brought the committee around to their proposal.
- He couldn’t bring his friends around to his opinion about the movie.
- The teacher brought the students around to the importance of studying regularly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I brought around my parents to my idea.
Correct: I brought my parents around to my idea. - Incorrect: She bring something around to the plan.
Correct: She brought something around to the plan. - Incorrect: They bring their friends to around to the suggestion.
Correct: They brought their friends around to the suggestion.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “bring around,” “win over,” and “convince.”
- Bring around: Usually means to persuade someone to change their mind; often used without specifying the new idea.
- Win over: Focuses on gaining someone’s support or approval.
- Convince: More formal and direct, meaning to make someone believe or agree.
“Bring sth around to sth” specifically emphasizes persuading someone to a particular idea or opinion, often after some effort.
Common Collocations
- bring someone around to an idea
- bring someone around to a point of view
- bring someone around to a plan
- bring someone around to a decision
- bring someone around to a suggestion
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bring sth around to sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I don’t think my boss will agree to remote work.
Tom: Have you tried to bring him around to the benefits of working from home?
Anna: Not yet, but I’m planning to explain how it can increase productivity.
Tom: That’s a good idea. Sometimes people just need the right reasons to change their minds.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “bring around to”:
- It was hard, but she finally ________ her parents ________ her decision.
- We tried to ________ the team ________ the new strategy.
- He couldn’t ________ his friends ________ his opinion about the book.
FAQs
- Q: Can “bring sth around to sth” be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Is “bring someone around” the same as “bring sth around to sth”?
A: They are similar, but “bring sth around to sth” focuses on persuading to a specific idea. - Q: Can I use “bring sth around to sth” without the second “to”?
A: No, the phrase requires “to” before the new idea or opinion. - Q: What is the difference between “bring around” and “convince”?
A: “Bring around” is more informal and implies gradual persuasion; “convince” is more direct. - Q: Is “bring sth around to sth” separable?
A: Yes, you can separate the object from the phrase.
