1. To bail out somebody or something (or bail somebody or something out) is to help a person or business in difficulty (especially financial difficulties).
Examples of use:
a) The government used tax payers’ money to bail out the big banks.
b) You must stop wasting money on shoes and jewellery. I can’t keep bailing you out.
c) News headline: Charity millions to bail out Scottish galleries and museums
2. To bail out is to jump out of a plane with a parachute because the plane is about to crash.
Example of use:
The plane’s engines caught fire and the pilot bailed out.
3. To bail out (or bail something out) is remove water from a boat by collecting it in a container and throwing it over the side of the boat.
Example of use:
Our rowing boat started to sink so I bailed it out, while Oscar and Francis rowed quickly towards the shore!
4. To bail somebody out is to pay a sum of money to get them released from prison while they wait for their trial.
Example of use:
I had to phone my dad and ask him to bail me out.
5. To bail out of something is to escape from a difficult situation, often leaving other people in a difficult situation by doing so.
Examples of use:
1. The printing firm have bailed out of their contract with us.
2. Marko said he would help us set up the new business, but he has bailed out.
In UK English, bail out is also spelt bale out.
| infinitive |
bail out |
| present simple |
bail out and bails out |
| -ing form |
bailing out |
| past simple |
bailed out |
| past participle |
bailed out |
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