bring off
Succeed in doing something
Littéralement: To carry or move something away from a starting point.
En 15 secondes
- Succeeding at a task that was difficult or unlikely.
- Often used for impressive achievements or clever plans.
- Can be split: 'bring it off' or 'bring off the win'.
Signification
Imagine you have a really difficult or unlikely task to complete. When you actually manage to do it successfully, you 'bring it off.'
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Talking about a surprise party
I can't believe we managed to bring off the surprise party without her knowing!
I can't believe we succeeded in the surprise party without her knowing!
Discussing a business merger
It was a risky move, but the CEO managed to bring off the merger.
It was a risky move, but the CEO succeeded in the merger.
Texting a friend about a game
The team was down by ten, but they brought it off in the end!
The team was down by ten, but they won in the end!
Contexte culturel
Often used with a sense of 'understatement.' A Brit might say 'He brought it off quite well' to mean it was a spectacular, world-class success. Associated with 'The Closer'—someone who can bring off a deal when everyone else has failed. It's a high-status phrase in corporate culture. Used globally in English-speaking arts criticism to discuss whether an 'ambitious' or 'risky' creative choice worked. Similar to British usage, but often paired with 'Good on ya' to celebrate a mate who succeeded against the odds.
The 'It' Factor
90% of the time, you will hear this as 'bring it off.' Practice this specific three-word chunk until it feels natural.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for easy things, you will sound sarcastic. Save it for the big wins!
En 15 secondes
- Succeeding at a task that was difficult or unlikely.
- Often used for impressive achievements or clever plans.
- Can be split: 'bring it off' or 'bring off the win'.
What It Means
To bring off something means to achieve a difficult goal. It is about succeeding when the odds are against you. Think of it as pulling a rabbit out of a hat. It is not just about finishing a task. It is about winning when people doubted you. You 'bring off' a victory or a complex plan.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb you can split apart. You can say bring off the deal or bring the deal off. Usually, we put the object in the middle if it is a pronoun. For example, you would say 'I knew he could bring it off.' It sounds very natural in professional and creative settings. Use it when the success feels like a real achievement.
When To Use It
Use this when a friend finally lands a dream job. Use it when a team wins a game in the last minute. It is perfect for talking about a surprise party that worked. Or use it for a high-stakes business presentation. It implies that the task required skill and cleverness. It is more than just luck.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for simple, everyday tasks. You do not bring off brushing your teeth. Do not use it for things that happen by accident. If you find five dollars on the street, you did not bring it off. Avoid using it in very emotional, tragic situations. It has a triumphant, almost 'showy' energy to it. It might sound a bit too cocky in a humble setting.
Cultural Background
This phrase feels very British and mid-century professional. It suggests a certain level of 'flair' or style in success. In Western culture, we love an underdog story. This phrase is the perfect ending to that story. It became popular because it sounds more active than just 'succeeding.' It sounds like you physically grabbed victory and carried it home.
Common Variations
People often compare this to pull off. Both mean the same thing, but pull off is more common in the US. You might also hear carry off. Carry off usually refers to handling a social situation with grace. Bring off is more about the final result. Stick to bring off when you want to sound slightly more sophisticated.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and versatile. It is especially useful in professional contexts when discussing achievements that required strategy.
The 'It' Factor
90% of the time, you will hear this as 'bring it off.' Practice this specific three-word chunk until it feels natural.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for easy things, you will sound sarcastic. Save it for the big wins!
Register Awareness
In a very formal academic paper, use 'successfully executed' instead. In a business meeting, 'bring off' is perfect.
Exemples
6I can't believe we managed to bring off the surprise party without her knowing!
I can't believe we succeeded in the surprise party without her knowing!
Highlights the difficulty of keeping a secret.
It was a risky move, but the CEO managed to bring off the merger.
It was a risky move, but the CEO succeeded in the merger.
Used here to show professional admiration for a tough task.
The team was down by ten, but they brought it off in the end!
The team was down by ten, but they won in the end!
Uses 'it' in the middle for a natural flow.
I didn't think he could bring off that neon suit, but he looked great.
I didn't think he could pull off that neon suit, but he looked great.
Humorous take on succeeding in a social/style risk.
If we bring this off, we'll be set for the rest of the year.
If we succeed in this, we'll be set for the rest of the year.
Shows the importance of the success.
It took years of practice, but I finally brought off my first solo performance.
It took years of practice, but I finally succeeded in my first solo performance.
Conveys a sense of pride and emotional relief.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'bring off' and the pronoun 'it'.
The plan was risky, but somehow they managed to ______ ______ ______.
The pronoun 'it' must go between 'bring' and 'off'.
Which sentence uses 'bring off' correctly?
Choose the best option:
This is the correct figurative use meaning 'to succeed in a difficult performance.'
Match the situation to the most likely use of 'bring off'.
Match these:
'Bring off' is for difficult, high-stakes successes.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Bring Off'
Business
- • Mergers
- • Pivots
- • Big Sales
Arts
- • Hard Roles
- • Concerts
- • Directing
Sports
- • Comebacks
- • Trick Shots
- • Underdog Wins
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesThe plan was risky, but somehow they managed to ______ ______ ______.
The pronoun 'it' must go between 'bring' and 'off'.
Choose the best option:
This is the correct figurative use meaning 'to succeed in a difficult performance.'
Match these:
'Bring off' is for difficult, high-stakes successes.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is neutral to slightly formal. It's perfect for business and journalism, but 'pull off' is more common with friends.
No. With pronouns, it must be 'bring it off.'
'Pull off' is more informal and common in the US. 'Bring off' sounds a bit more planned and skillful.
Yes, you can 'bring off a heist' or 'bring off a deception.' It just means the task was hard and you succeeded.
It is always 'brought off.' 'Brung' is non-standard and considered incorrect.
Yes, it's very common in sports commentary for difficult plays.
Not exactly. 'Carry out' just means to do a task. 'Bring off' means to succeed in a *difficult* task.
Rarely. 'The deal was brought off' is possible but 'They brought off the deal' is much more natural.
Yes, this is a very common collocation.
It is used in both, but 'pull off' is more dominant in the US.
Expressions liées
pull off
synonymTo succeed in doing something difficult.
carry off
similarTo succeed in doing something difficult, often with style.
bring about
contrastTo cause something to happen.
pull it out of the bag
idiomTo succeed unexpectedly at the last minute.
