Phrasal verb
bail out of
Definition
phrasal verb. to leave a situation or stop doing something because it is becoming too difficult or failing.
phrasal verb. to withdraw from a commitment, project, or situation, typically to avoid further difficulty or failure; often carries a connotation of abandonment.
Examples
“He decided to bail out of the project early.”
“The investors chose to bail out of the startup when they saw the falling profits.”
“Fearing a total market collapse, several major shareholders bailed out of their positions before the official announcement was made.”
Examples
simple
“He decided to bail out of the project early.”
contextual
“The investors chose to bail out of the startup when they saw the falling profits.”
complex
“Fearing a total market collapse, several major shareholders bailed out of their positions before the official announcement was made.”
Usage
often used when someone quits a plan or a relationship suddenly to avoid trouble.
Teaching tip
connect this to the literal meaning of a pilot jumping out of a failing plane with a parachute to help students visualize the 'escape' aspect.
Pitfall
He bailed out from the deal.
He bailed out of the deal.
the standard three-part phrasal verb requires 'of' to connect to the object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out of
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
bail + out + of + object