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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase call the question— used in formal procedures as an in-
vitation to cut off any further debate and proceed to a vote on the
topic in question: Before proposing to “call the question,” there
should be some indication that most members have made up
their mind.
bring something out in someone • bring some-
thing out of someone
bring something out in someone —cause a particular intrinsic
quality to be displayed by a person: War sometimes brings
out the worst in people.
bring something out of someone —cause smth. to be said by a
person: We threatened him a little and that brought the truth
out of him.
bring something to a pretty pass • bring some-
thing to pass
bring something to a pretty pass —reduce smth. to an unfor-
tunate condition: But what has brought the company to such
a pretty pass since I last worked for it?
bring something to pass —(dated) cause smth. to happen;
carry out or accomplish smth.: Strafford really went some way
towards bringing his scheme to pass.
bring something to light • shed light on some-
thing
bring something to light—reveal smth.; make smth. known:
Facts of the utmost importance will be brought to light by the
ringing of birds.
shed light on something —(also: throw light on something ) clar-
ify or explain smth.: Recent research has shed new light on
the causes of the disease.
bring something to naught • set something at
naught
bring something to naught—(of plans, efforts, etc.) ruin or
render useless: An alliance between them, albeit temporary
… was quite effective enough to bring the best efforts to
naught.
set something at naught—(dated) disregard smth.; consider
smth. to be of little value: The tendency of all lunacy is to set
at naught first the optional and then the obligatory rules of
conduct.