bail
1property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time.
the person who agrees to be liable if someone released from custody does not return at an appointed time.
the state of release upon being bailed.
to grant or obtain the liberty of (a person under arrest) on security given for their appearance when required, such as in court for trial.
to deliver possession of (goods) for storage, hire, or other special purpose, without transfer of ownership.
Idioms about bail
go / stand bail for, to provide bail for: They spent the night in jail because no one would stand bail for them.
jump bail, to fail to return while free on bail: The suspect jumped bail and is now being sought.
on bail, (of a temporarily released person under arrest) having provided bail: He was out on bail within 10 hours of his arrest.
Origin of bail
1Other definitions for bail (2 of 4)
the semicircular handle of a kettle or pail.
a hooplike support, as for the canvas cover on a Conestoga wagon.
a metal band or bar equipped with rollers for holding a sheet or sheets of paper against the platen of a printing press, typewriter, etc.
Origin of bail
2- Rarely bale .
Other definitions for bail (3 of 4)
to dip (water) out of a boat, as with a bucket.
to clear of water by dipping (usually followed by out): to bail out a boat.
to relieve or assist (a person, company, etc.) in an emergency situation, especially a financial crisis (often followed by out): The corporation bailed out its failing subsidiary through a series of refinancing operations.
to clear a boat of water, as with a bucket: They flipped the canoe back to its upright position and started bailing rapidly.
to make a parachute jump from an airplane (often followed by out).
to give up on or abandon something, as to evade a responsibility (often followed by out): My cousin volunteered to help but bailed at the last minute.
Also bailer. a bucket, dipper, or other container used for bailing.
Origin of bail
3- Also bale (for defs. 1, 2, 4) .
Other definitions for bail (4 of 4)
Cricket. either of the two small bars or sticks laid across the tops of the stumps which form the wicket.
British, Australian. a bar, framework, partition, or the like, for confining or separating cows, horses, etc., in a stable.
bails, Obsolete. the wall of an outer court of a feudal castle.
bail up, Australian.
to confine a cow for milking, as in a bail.
to force (one) to surrender or identify oneself or to state one's business.
to waylay or rob (someone).
Origin of bail
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use bail in a sentence
Business questions are raised—who starts a PE firm and bails on it in a matter of mere months?
Be the Smarter Bush Brother, Jeb: Don’t Run! | Michael Tomasky | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis sends Pete into a funk, and he bails on a date to see Oh!
Mad Men’s ‘The Strategy,’ With Peggy and Don’s Late-Night Powwow, is S7’s Best Episode (So Far) | Marlow Stern | May 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen Don bails the next day, and Amy awkwardly bounces, Megan is once again left all alone, and frustrated.
Mad Men’s ‘The Runaways’: Three-Way Sex and Self-Mutilation in the Craziest Episode Yet | Marlow Stern | May 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut at the first sign of trouble, Obama bails on her bid to succeed Hillary.
At the last moment, Levin abruptly bails out, makes everything go right again, and wraps it up with a happy ending.
Must Read New Fiction: ‘Arcadia,’ ‘Men in Space,’ ‘The O’Briens,’ ‘Hot Pink’ | Chloë Schama, Jacob Silverman, Wendy Smith, Daniel Roberts | March 23, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
If the bails should happen to be off, a stump must be struck out of the ground.
The Book of Sports: | William MartinShe turned the cows into the paddock beside the bails and took the pail of warm, sweet-smelling milk indoors.
The Pioneers | Katharine Susannah PrichardJars having glass tops held in place by bails are especially easy to handle while they are hot.
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl | Amy WatermanBails or bales, frames made of perpendicular wooden bars in which cows are fastened for the night in the stable.
English As We Speak It in Ireland | P. W. JoyceThe next ball, the Town boys replied even more lustily, for Childers ball removed the bails, and the game ended in a tie.
By Sheer Pluck | G. A. Henty
British Dictionary definitions for bail (1 of 4)
/ (beɪl) law /
a sum of money by which a person is bound to take responsibility for the appearance in court of another person or himself or herself, forfeited if the person fails to appear
the person or persons so binding themselves; surety
the system permitting release of a person from custody where such security has been taken: he was released on bail
jump bail or formal forfeit bail to fail to appear in court to answer to a charge
stand bail or go bail to act as surety (for someone)
(often foll by out) to release or obtain the release of (a person) from custody, security having been made
Origin of bail
1- See also bail out
British Dictionary definitions for bail (2 of 4)
bale
/ (beɪl) /
(often foll by out) to remove (water) from (a boat)
Origin of bail
2Derived forms of bail
- bailer or baler, noun
British Dictionary definitions for bail (3 of 4)
/ (beɪl) /
cricket either of two small wooden bars placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket
agriculture
a partition between stalls in a stable or barn, for horses
a portable dairy house built on wheels or skids
Australian and NZ a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a cow during milking
See bail up
Origin of bail
3British Dictionary definitions for bail (4 of 4)
bale
/ (beɪl) /
the semicircular handle of a kettle, bucket, etc
a semicircular support for a canopy
a movable bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the platen
Origin of bail
4Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with bail
In addition to the idiom beginning with bail
- bail out
also see:
- make bail
- out on bail
- skip bail
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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