bail
/beɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /beɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbāl/ (ame, mw)
bail — noun
1. money handed over to a court so that a person waiting for a criminal trial can l
money handed over to a court so that a person waiting for a criminal trial can leave jail; the court keeps the money if the person fails to come back for the trial.
The judge set bail at fifty thousand dollars after hearing the lawyers' arguments.
set bail at + amount
Mei was released on bail until her trial begins next March.
released on bail (passive)
Imani's father borrowed money from his sister to post bail for his son.
The court refused bail because the suspect had tried to leave the country before.
Nina is out on bail and must report to the police every Friday.
- custody
being held in jail rather than released before trial
文法句型
on bail
post bail
grant/refuse bail
用法筆記
Always uncountable. Subject of verbs like 'grant', 'refuse', 'set', and 'post' is usually a court or judge; the accused person is the object of the preposition 'for' (bail for him).
常見錯誤
2. in cricket, one of two short wooden rods that rest across the tops of the three
in cricket, one of two short wooden rods that rest across the tops of the three vertical sticks behind the batter; if the ball knocks them off, the batter is out.
The fast bowler hit the stumps and both bails flew into the air.
plural form 'bails'
Ravi cheered loudly when the bails finally fell off in the last over.
the bails fell off
A strong wind blew one of the bails off the stumps before the first ball was bowled.
The umpire put the bails back on the stumps and signalled the bowler to start again.
文法句型
the bails (plural, usually with 'the')
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('the bails'), since stumps carry two bails together. Used only in cricket contexts; British and Commonwealth English.
bail — verb
1. to use a bucket, can, or similar container to scoop water out of a small boat th
to use a bucket, can, or similar container to scoop water out of a small boat that is leaking or has taken on rain.
The two fishermen bailed for an hour after a wave filled their wooden boat.
intransitive use
Olu used an old plastic cup to bail water from the bottom of the canoe.
bail water from + place
We took turns bailing while the rain poured down on the small fishing boat.
The captain shouted at the crew to bail faster before the boat sank.
文法句型
bail water (out of something)
bail (a boat) out
用法筆記
Often paired with 'out' as a separable phrasal verb ('bail the water out'). Subject is usually a person on a small boat; the noun object is water (or sometimes the boat itself, meaning to empty it).
常見錯誤
2. (usually passive) to set an accused person free from jail before their criminal
(usually passive) to set an accused person free from jail before their criminal trial in return for money that the court holds as a guarantee they will return.
The two protesters were bailed by a local lawyer late on Saturday night.
passive: be bailed by + person
Diego was bailed to appear at the magistrates' court on the first of June.
passive + to-infinitive
The judge agreed to bail the young driver on condition that he stay at home.
The young driver was bailed last week and is now living with his parents in Bristol.
- release
broader; bail specifically involves money as a guarantee
文法句型
bail somebody
be bailed (until)
bail somebody to + infinitive
用法筆記
Far more often passive than active. Distinguish from sense 1 (REMOVE WATER), which never takes a person as object. The agent that does the bailing is typically a court, judge, or police officer.
常見錯誤
3. to give up on an activity, plan, or person before things are finished, often sud
to give up on an activity, plan, or person before things are finished, often suddenly and in a way that disappoints others.
Two of my friends bailed an hour before the camping trip and left me with all the gear.
informal: bail before + event
Mei bailed on the group project the night before it was due.
bail on + activity
Don't bail on me again — I really need help moving the sofa this Sunday.
Sofia bailed halfway through the marathon because her left knee was hurting.
- stick around
informal; stay until something finishes
- commit
stay engaged with a plan or person
文法句型
bail (on something/somebody)
用法筆記
Informal register, mostly American English in origin but now widely used. Often followed by 'on' + person or activity. Carries a slightly negative tone of letting someone down.