bring up

Meaning

To 'bring up' means to introduce a topic, question, or issue into a conversation or meeting so that people can discuss it. It is a highly common phrasal verb in professional settings when you want to start talking about a new subject.

Examples

• I plan to bring up the budget issues during our team meeting tomorrow.

  I plan to bring up the budget issues during our team meeting tomorrow.

• Thank you for bringing that up; it's a very important point.

  Thank you for bringing that up; it's a very important point.

• He didn't want to bring up the delay in front of the client.

  He didn't want to bring up the delay in front of the client.

• If no one else does, I will bring up the need for more training.

  If no one else does, I will bring up the need for more training.

• Why did you bring up the old project when we are discussing the new one?

  Why did you bring up the old project when we are discussing the new one?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to bring up about the new schedule.

  ✓ I want to bring up the new schedule.

  'Bring up' is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. You do not need the preposition 'about' after it.

• ✗ We should open up this topic in the meeting.

  ✓ We should bring up this topic in the meeting.

  While 'open up' can mean to talk freely, 'bring up' is the correct phrasal verb for introducing a new topic for discussion.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Don't forget to ___ the issue of overtime at the next meeting.

  💡 Introduce or mention.

  Show answer

  bring up

• I'm glad you decided to ___ that topic; we really needed to discuss it.

  💡 Raise the subject.

  Show answer

  bring up