bail out

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The phrase "bail out" can have a few different meanings, but let's start with the most common ones.

Basic Meaning:

1. To Remove Water from a Boat: The original meaning of "bail out" comes from boating. When a boat takes on water (if it starts to fill with water), people can "bail out" the water by using a container to scoop it out and throw it over the side.

Usage Instructions:

• How to Use: You can use "bail out" when you talk about removing water from a boat or when you refer to helping someone escape a difficult situation.
• Forms: It can be used in present, past, and future tenses. For example:
  • Present: "I bail out water from the boat."
  • Past: "He bailed out the boat yesterday."
  • Future: "We will bail out the water if it rains."

Advanced Usage:

1. To Help Someone or Something Out of a Difficult Situation: In a figurative sense, "bail out" can mean to assist someone in a tough situation, especially in financial contexts.

Word Variants:

• Bail: This can also refer to a legal term where someone pays money to be released from jail while waiting for a trial.
• Bailed: This is the past tense of "bail out."

Different Meaning:

• As mentioned, "bail" in a legal context means to release someone from custody by paying a certain amount of money.

Synonyms:

• For the boating context: "scoop out," "empty."
• For helping someone out: "rescue," "assist," "support."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Bail out of something: This can mean to avoid a responsibility or to leave a situation quickly.

Summary:

"Bail out" is a versatile phrase used in both literal and figurative contexts. It can refer to removing water from a boat or helping someone out of a difficult situation.

Academic

Verb

1. remove (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side
2. free on bail

Synonyms

• bale out