This guide focuses on two common meanings of bring up:
- To introduce or raise a topic in conversation.
- To care for and teach a child as they grow.
Context usually keeps these senses clear. Workplace tasks mostly use sense 1. The child-rearing sense can appear in small talk about family or background. Dictionaries also list other uses, such as making an item appear on a screen.
Sense 1: raising a topic in conversation
This is the main workplace sense. It introduces a subject, concern, or question into a discussion.
"I want to bring up the timeline concerns before we finalize the plan."
"She brought up a good point about the budget that nobody had considered."
"This isn't the right forum to bring that up — let's discuss it one-on-one."
This sense is close to raise or mention. It lets you introduce a topic without stating a final position.
"Can I bring something up?" is a common, polite way to signal you're about to introduce a new (possibly sensitive) subject.
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See how Lyra Practice works →Sense 2: raising or rearing a child
This sense means caring for and guiding a child as they grow.
"She was brought up in a small town before moving to the city for university."
"Bringing up two kids while working full-time isn't easy."
This sense is rare in project discussions. It can appear in small talk, interviews, or personal conversations. It may describe someone's background or parenting demands.
How to tell the two senses apart
The object often reveals the meaning. A topic, point, issue, or concern signals sense 1. A child signals sense 2. Passive phrases such as “brought up in...” also describe a person's upbringing.
"He brought up the delay in the status meeting." (topic — sense 1)
"He was brought up by his grandparents." (upbringing — sense 2)
Most sentences are clear once you identify the object and surrounding context.
Common mistakes
Mistake 1: Using "bring up" for a sensitive topic without enough context, which can sound abrupt.
Blunt:
"I'm bringing up the missed deadline."
Softer and more typical in professional settings:
"I wanted to bring up something about the timeline — do you have a minute?"
Mistake 2: Confusing "bring up" (raise a topic) with "come up" (a topic arises on its own).
These are related but not interchangeable. With bring up, someone or something introduces the topic. A person is the usual source, but a report or event can also raise an issue. Come up puts the topic itself in focus and may leave the source unnamed.
"I brought up the pricing issue in the call." (someone actively raised it)
"The pricing issue came up during the call." (it arose, possibly without anyone deliberately introducing it)
Mistake 3: Repeatedly using "bring up" about the same issue without explaining why.
If you raised something before, say so and explain what is still open. “As I mentioned last week...” is clearer than only saying “I want to bring this up again.”
Practice scenarios
Practice using bring up in situations like:
- introducing a sensitive topic in a meeting politely
- asking permission before raising something that might be uncomfortable
- distinguishing between a topic you actively raised and one that simply came up
- describing your own upbringing or background in a casual conversation
Useful practice phrases:
- "Can I bring something up?"
- "I wanted to bring up a concern about..."
- "That's a good point to bring up in the retro."
- "I was brought up to always double-check my work."
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