I've noticed this a lot in writing, where someone will write "Bare with me". What these people don't seem to realise is the difference between these tricky homophones
Now, I'm certain pretty much everyone knows that a bear is a large, primarily omnivorous mammal. What they probably don't realise is that it also means to bring forth, to endure or hold up, like Atlas literally bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders to the right there.
So if you want to ask someone to be patient with you, you might want to say “Bear with me.”
And if you were saying you would endure something unpleasant, you could use “Grin and bear it.”
These are well known sayings, I am sure.
Now, it has come to my attention recently that a lot of people seem to use bare for these same phrases.
The definition of bare is a verb meaning to unclothe or uncover. Or an adjective meaning uncovered.
For example: doing something with your bare hands.
So, keeping this in mind, we return to our previous turns of phrase, but with the incorrect version of bare/bear inserted.
I will also be including my own definitions of these new sayings for your amusement.
Bare with me - An invitation to become nude with the speaker.
Grin and bare it - This is what a stripper or a prostitute does for a living.
Now that you too know the difference between Bear and Bare, maybe you’ll be able to have a chuckle too when you see these homophones confused.
