Bear with me through all this vs Stay with me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Bear with me through all this

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Stay with me

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Stay with me
 Bear with me through all thisStay with me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //bɛə wɪð miː θruː ɔːl ðɪs//🇺🇸 //bɛr wɪð mi θru ɔl ðɪs//🇬🇧 //steɪ wɪð miː//🇺🇸 //steɪ wɪð mi//
MeaningPlease be patient with me.Remain close to me or continue being with me.
ExampleCan you bear with me through all this paperwork I need to complete?When I feel scared at night, I want you to stay with me.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationsbear with me, bear with us, please bear with me, to bear with someone, bear with me for a momentstay with friends, stay with family, stay with someone
Common mistakesSaying 'bare with me' instead of 'bear with me'., Using it in a way that sounds demanding rather than polite., Confusing it with 'bear' meaning to carry something.Confused with 'stay for me', which implies waiting instead of being together., Using in overly formal situations, which may sound strange., Misunderstanding as a command rather than a request.
Usage notesUsed when asking someone to be patient while you explain something or sort out a situation. Appropriate in most situations, but may sound informal in very formal contexts.Used in emotional or urgent situations to ask someone to not leave or to continue supporting. More common in informal contexts.

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Bear with me through all this
Stay with me

Frequently asked questions: Bear with me through all this vs Stay with me

What's the difference between Bear with me through all this and Stay with me?

Bear with me through all this: Please be patient with me. Stay with me: Remain close to me or continue being with me.

Which is more common: Bear with me through all this and Stay with me?

Stay with me is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Bear with me through all this: Can you bear with me through all this paperwork I need to complete? Stay with me: When I feel scared at night, I want you to stay with me.

Can I use Bear with me through all this and Stay with me interchangeably?

Not always. Bear with me through all this and Stay with me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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