I. Literal Meanings
A. Lift or Raise
- Physical Objects
- When used in a literal sense related to physical objects, “brings up” implies the action of lifting or raising something. For example, “He brings up the heavy box from the basement.” Here, the subject is physically elevating the box from a lower location (the basement) to a higher one. This usage is common in descriptions of manual labor, moving items, or handling objects in a spatial context.
- Animals or People in a Physical Sense
- It can also refer to helping an animal or a person to a standing or upright position. Consider the sentence, “The trainer brings up the injured horse carefully.” In this case, the trainer is assisting the horse to get up, perhaps after it has fallen or been lying down due to injury. Similarly, “She brings up her toddler who has fallen on the playground.” Here, the mother or caregiver is helping the child to stand up again.
II. Figurative Meanings
A. Introduce or Mention a Topic
- In Conversations
- One of the most common figurative uses of “brings up” is to introduce or mention a particular topic during a conversation. For instance, “During the meeting, he brings up the issue of budget cuts.” This indicates that the person in question introduced the topic of budget cuts into the discussion. It can be used in various settings, from casual conversations among friends to formal business meetings or academic discussions. In a friendly chat, someone might say, “She always brings up her favorite TV show whenever we talk.” Here, the person is constantly introducing the topic of her favorite TV show into the conversation.
- In Writing
- In written communication, “brings up” serves a similar purpose. An author might write, “The article brings up several important points about environmental conservation.” Here, the article is presenting or introducing these points to the readers. This usage is prevalent in essays, reports, and academic papers, where the writer needs to highlight certain ideas or issues.
B. Raise a Child
- Parental Responsibilities
- “Brings up” is often used to describe the process of raising a child, including providing for their physical, emotional, and educational needs. For example, “They bring up their children with love and discipline.” This implies that the parents are taking on the role of nurturing and guiding their children as they grow. It encompasses everything from feeding, clothing, and sheltering the child to teaching them values, social skills, and academic knowledge.
- Cultural and Social Aspects
- The concept of bringing up children also has cultural and social implications. Different cultures have unique ways of bringing up their children, and this phrase can be used to discuss these differences. For example, “In some cultures, grandparents play a significant role in bringing up the grandchildren.” Here, the focus is on the cultural practice where grandparents are actively involved in the process of raising the children, which may include aspects like teaching traditional values, languages, or skills.
C. Recall or Remember
- Personal Memories
- “Brings up” can be used to describe the act of recalling or remembering something from the past. For example, “The old photograph brings up memories of my childhood.” In this case, looking at the photograph causes the person to remember events, experiences, or feelings from their childhood. It can be triggered by various stimuli, such as a smell, a song, or an object, and is often used in a nostalgic context.
- Historical or Collective Memories
- It can also apply to historical or collective memories. A documentary might be described as “bringing up important events from our nation's history.” Here, the documentary is presenting or making people remember significant events from the country's past, which can be educational and help in understanding the present context.
In conclusion, “brings up” is a versatile phrasal verb with a range of meanings that are integral to effective communication in both spoken and written English. Whether it's about physical actions, introducing ideas, raising children, or recalling memories, understanding its various uses allows for clear and accurate expression.