Phrases & SayingsCrime, prison and the underworld
bail up
Stop, detain, confront or corner someone; historically, order someone to stop under threat.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “bail up” means stop, detain, confront or corner someone; historically, order someone to stop under threat.
Where it came from
The Australian National Dictionary Centre traces the Australian development to bushranging/colonial usage, with related goldfields evidence.
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Australian use; no narrower regional pattern established