# bail out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bail-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to help a person or organization that is in a difficult situation, usually by giving them money. You can also use it when you leave a plan or situation because it is becoming too difficult.

For teachers: to provide financial assistance to an entity facing insolvency or severe distress; also used to describe the act of rescuing someone from a predicament. The verb can also be used intransitively to mean withdrawing from a commitment or situation.

## Examples

- The government decided to bail out the struggling airline.
- When his small business faced bankruptcy, his family had to bail him out with their life savings.
- Economists argued whether the central bank should bail out the commercial sector or risk a total systemic collapse of the national currency.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The company was in trouble, so the bank bailed out it." but "The company was in trouble, so the bank bailed it out." — When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- This is an optionally separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can sit between 'bail' and 'out' or after both.
- Teaching tip: Explain the literal origin of bailing water out of a sinking boat to help students visualize the concept of a 'rescue'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.