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bail

Definition

  • noun: an amount of money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial
  • noun: a container used to remove water from a boat
  • verb: to remove or throw water 'from' or 'out of' a boat
  • verb: to clear (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side
  • verb: to release under bail
  • usually used with 'out'
  • synonyms: lade, deliver, release

Examples

  • They were both 'free/out on' $10,000 'bail'. [=they both paid the court $10,000 and promised to return for their trials]

  • We used a bucket to 'bail' water 'out of' the canoe. = We used a bucket to 'bail out' the canoe.

  • She 'bailed' [='bailed out'] when times got tough. [=she left when life became difficult]

Movie quotes

  • (..) saying she arrived in merritsville? Why did she do that? Where'd they take Lisa? Precinct six. I sent somebody over with the bail money. maybe you won't need it. I'll run it down,Jeff. All right. Hurry up, will you? This fellow knows he's being watched. (..)
    1954 Rear Window
  • (..) he won't wait until his lease is up. Get my billfold out of the drawer in the table there. What do you need money for? I'm gonna bail Lisa out of Jail. You could leave her there till next Tuesday. Then you could sneak safely away as planned. Yeah, let's see, $ . (..)
    1954 Rear Window