bail up

present singular third person bails up · participle present bailing up · participle past bailed up · past bailed up

1. AustraliatransitiveTo 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. AustraliaNew ZealandtransitiveTo stop (someone) to talk to them; to buttonhole.

   I'm late because Debbie bailed me up on the phone.

   1 more example

   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. AustraliatransitiveTo rob (someone).

   They bailed me up for fifty bucks.

4. AustraliatransitiveTo corner (someone); to hold (someone) under threat of violence; for dogs to hold people or animals at bay.
5. intransitiveFor rocks, clay, etc. to build up around a drill.
6. misspellingMisspelling of bale up.