Dictionary

bail up en · VERB

Meanings

1. (Australia, transitive) To apply a bail to (a cow); to trap or corner.
   • There were six young heifers that had just calved. I ran them into the yard in true ‘Riverina’ fashion; bailed the first one up; shanghaied her off-side leg to a post; pulled up the stool; sat down with a bucket between my legs and started to milk. 1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 25:
2. (Australia, New-Zealand, transitive) To stop (someone) to talk to them; to buttonhole.
   • I'm late because Debbie bailed me up on the phone.
   • It always embarrassed me dreadfully the way Pop seemed to lack the sense and pride just to say ‘Good day’ to Doc instead of trying every time to bail him up and talk importantly. 1963, Ronald Hugh Morrieson, The Scarecrow, Text Classics, published 2012, page 94:
3. (Australia, transitive) To rob (someone).
   • They bailed me up for fifty bucks.
4. (Australia, transitive) To corner (someone); to hold (someone) under threat of violence; for dogs to hold people or animals at bay.
5. (intransitive) For rocks, clay, etc. to build up around a drill.
6. (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of bale up.
   alt of bale up

Forms