bring around
يقنع
Littéralement: To carry or move something to a circular or nearby position.
Use it when you successfully persuade a stubborn person to finally agree with your point of view.
En 15 secondes
- To persuade someone to change their mind to your side.
- Used for gradual changes in opinion, not instant ones.
- Can also mean to help someone regain consciousness.
Signification
When you 'bring someone around,' you gradually persuade them to agree with your opinion or accept your idea after they were initially against it.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Convincing a parent
It took me months, but I finally brought my mom around to the idea of me getting a tattoo.
It took me months, but I finally persuaded my mom to accept the idea of me getting a tattoo.
A business meeting
The CEO was skeptical, but the marketing team managed to bring him around.
The CEO was skeptical, but the marketing team managed to convince him.
Texting about a stubborn friend
Don't worry, I'll bring him around to the party tonight.
Don't worry, I will convince him to come to the party tonight.
Contexte culturel
The phrase dates back to the 1800s and originally referred to bringing a ship around to a new heading. In modern culture, it reflects the democratic ideal of winning an argument through persistence rather than authority. In British English, 'round' is more common than 'around'.
The 'Round' Shortcut
In the UK, Australia, and NZ, people almost always say 'bring round' instead of 'bring around'. It sounds more local!
Don't confuse with 'Bring About'
'Bring about' means to cause a change in a situation, while 'bring around' is specifically about changing a person's mind.
En 15 secondes
- To persuade someone to change their mind to your side.
- Used for gradual changes in opinion, not instant ones.
- Can also mean to help someone regain consciousness.
What It Means
Imagine your friend hates spicy food. You talk about it for weeks. Finally, they agree to try your favorite curry. You have successfully brought them around. It is about changing a mind. It is not a fast process. It feels like a gentle nudge rather than a shove. You are moving their opinion from 'No' to 'Yes'.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb. You can split it up. You can say bring around my dad or bring my dad around. Usually, we put the person in the middle. Use it when someone is stubborn. It works for big life decisions or small dinner choices. It implies you used logic or charm to win.
When To Use It
You use this when a debate is finally over. Use it at work when a boss finally likes your project. Use it at home when your partner agrees to a vacation. It is perfect for describing a victory in persuasion. It sounds natural and friendly. It shows you are patient and persistent.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical force. If you make someone do something by bullying, this is not the phrase. It is also not for quick decisions. If they say 'yes' instantly, you did not bring them around. Avoid using it in very legal or cold documents. It is a bit too warm for a court of law. Also, do not confuse it with bring about, which means to cause something to happen.
Cultural Background
English speakers value the 'art of persuasion'. We do not like being told what to do. We like to feel like we changed our own minds. Bring around reflects this. It suggests a journey of thought. It has been used for centuries to describe changing a person's 'direction' of thinking. It is a very common 'office politics' phrase in the UK and US.
Common Variations
You might hear bring them round in British English. It means the exact same thing. Sometimes people use it for waking someone up after they faint. 'The doctor brought him around with smelling salts.' Context is key here. If they are sleeping, it is medical. If they are stubborn, it is persuasion.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile and fits in almost any social or professional setting. Just remember that when using pronouns, the person goes in the middle (`bring them around`).
The 'Round' Shortcut
In the UK, Australia, and NZ, people almost always say 'bring round' instead of 'bring around'. It sounds more local!
Don't confuse with 'Bring About'
'Bring about' means to cause a change in a situation, while 'bring around' is specifically about changing a person's mind.
The Soft Sell
Using this phrase implies you weren't aggressive. It suggests you were clever and patient in your persuasion.
Exemples
6It took me months, but I finally brought my mom around to the idea of me getting a tattoo.
It took me months, but I finally persuaded my mom to accept the idea of me getting a tattoo.
Shows the gradual nature of the persuasion.
The CEO was skeptical, but the marketing team managed to bring him around.
The CEO was skeptical, but the marketing team managed to convince him.
Used here to show professional success in a presentation.
Don't worry, I'll bring him around to the party tonight.
Don't worry, I will convince him to come to the party tonight.
Casual use among friends.
I brought my cat around to the new food, but only after I added some tuna.
I convinced my cat to eat the new food, but only after I added some tuna.
Personifying a pet for comedic effect.
We need to bring the rest of the family around to the plan for Grandpa's care.
We need to get the rest of the family to agree to the plan for Grandpa's care.
Used for sensitive, important topics.
The paramedics used oxygen to bring the fainted runner around.
The paramedics used oxygen to make the fainted runner regain consciousness.
This is the alternative meaning: regaining consciousness.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence about a stubborn boss.
He didn't like the budget at first, but we eventually ___ him ___.
To 'bring someone around' is the standard phrasal verb for persuasion.
Identify the meaning in this context: 'She fainted from the heat, but the cold water brought her around.'
In this sentence, 'brought her around' means: ___
When someone is unconscious, 'bring around' means to restore consciousness.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Bring Around'
Talking to friends about dinner choices.
I'll bring her around to the pizza idea.
Discussing a project with a colleague.
We need to bring the manager around.
In a legal contract or academic paper.
The party was persuaded (Avoid 'bring around').
When to use 'Bring Around'
Family Debates
Convincing parents to let you travel.
Work Proposals
Getting a team to accept a new tool.
Social Plans
Persuading a friend to go out.
Medical
Helping someone wake up after fainting.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it implies the person was initially very stubborn or had a different opinion. You wouldn't use it if they agreed easily.
Yes, you can 'bring a book around' to someone's house, meaning to deliver it. However, the persuasion meaning is much more common.
Both are correct. 'Bring around' is more common in American English, while 'bring round' is the standard in British English.
No, if you use a pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go in the middle: brought him around.
Yes, it is neutral. It is perfectly fine to say 'We hope to bring the board around to our proposal' in a meeting.
You can use it there too! 'The doctors finally brought him around after two days' means he regained consciousness.
No, there is no common noun like 'a bring-around'. You would just use the verb phrase.
They are very similar. 'Win over' often implies making someone like you, while 'bring around' focuses more on making them agree with your idea.
Absolutely. You can say 'I need to bring the whole committee around to my way of thinking.'
Using it for a quick decision. If I ask 'Pizza?' and you say 'Yes', I didn't bring you around. It requires a struggle!
Expressions liées
Win someone over
To gain someone's support or favor.
Talk someone into
To persuade someone to do something.
Twist someone's arm
To pressure someone into doing something (idiomatic).
Come around
To change your own mind (the person's perspective).
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