bail
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.money paid to a court so that an accused person can stay out of jail until their trial.
n.security, typically a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of their appearance for trial.
Simple“The judge set the bail at ten thousand dollars because the crime was serious.”
In context“The defendant was released on bail pending his appeal, provided he surrendered his passport and reported to the local police station weekly.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrases 'on bail', 'post bail', or 'grant bail'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to pay the money needed to get someone out of jail.
v.to secure the release of an arrested person by providing the required financial security.
Simple“His brother had to bail him out after he was arrested for the protest.”
In context“The family struggled to raise enough funds to bail the suspect out before the holiday weekend began.”
UsageOften functions as the phrasal verb 'bail out'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to use a bucket or container to throw water out of a boat.
v.to remove water from a vessel by scooping it out with a container.
Simple“We had to bail water out of the small boat for an hour after the storm.”
In context“The crew worked frantically to bail the leaking dinghy, using every available bucket to stay afloat until they reached the shore.”
UsageCan be used transitively ('bail the boat') or intransitively ('bail water out').
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to leave a place or a situation suddenly, especially if it is boring or difficult.
v.to exit a situation or location abruptly; to abandon a commitment or social engagement.
Simple“The party was really boring, so we decided to bail and go home.”
In context“He promised to help me move house, but he bailed at the last minute, leaving me to carry the furniture alone.”
Teacher's tipVery common in modern casual speech; learners should use this with friends rather than in professional settings.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.one of the two small pieces of wood that sit on top of the stumps in cricket.
n.one of the two wooden crosspieces that rest on top of the stumps to form a wicket.
Simple“The ball hit the stumps so hard that the bails flew into the air.”
In context“The umpire checked the position of the bails after the gusty wind threatened to dislodge them from the stumps.”
“He was expected to appear in court for a bail hearing on Saturday.”
“He was refused bail the following day, when he was represented under the former scheme.”