A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

bring someone into the world • usher someone
into the world
bring someone into the world —
1
. give birth to a child: Do
you know what the finest thing you’ve done is — aside from
bringing Hugh into the world? 2. (of a doctor) attend the birth
of a child: I’ve known Mrs. Anderson a long time — brought
her two children into the world — and she’s a fine little woman.
usher someone into the world —introduce a person to social
surroundings: It was about a year after the loss that I was ush-
ered into the world.
bring someone low • lay someone low
bring someone low —defeat smb. or force into a humble po-
sition: The cruel rulers were brought low by the determined
action of the people.
lay someone low —
1
. knock smb. to the ground: With one
blow, the experienced fighter laid his young opponent low. 2.
(of a disease) make a person take to bed (usually Passive): I’ve
been laid low with this terrible cough most of the winter. 3.
= bring someone low: Someone who all his life had played tennis
and softball shouldn’t be thus laid low.
bring someone to grief • give someone grief
bring someone to grief —cause a person to experience mis-
fortune, injury or ruin: He was noted for having a quick tem-
per, which often brought him to grief.
give someone grief —
1
. cause smb. pain or sorrow: This bite
really gave me grief , and yet it is still a mildish bite from one
of the less serious adder species. 2. criticize a person angrily:
Both my wife and my daughter gave me grief about my diet
and encouraged me to exercise more.
bring one’s mind to something
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bring someone to justice • do justice to someone
bring someone to justice —arrest, try and sentence a person
who has committed a crime: “Cannot this infamous scoundrel
be brought to justice?” I inquired.
do justice to someone —acknowledge smb.’s merits: For many
years the London public has failed to do justice to the prima
ballerina.