Question:

During the trial, the defense attorney used expert testimonies to __ the claims made by the prosecution's star witness.

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Think of "bear out" as meaning "to carry out the truth" of something. Whenever you see a sentence where evidence, facts, data, or testimonies confirm a theory or statement, "bear out" is the standard phrase to use!
Updated On: May 21, 2026
  • bear out
  • bear down
  • cave in
  • hold up
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation


Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

Sentence completion questions involving phrasal verbs require analyzing the context and relationship between the subjects. Here, a defense attorney is using "expert testimonies" in relation to "claims". In a legal setting, evidence or testimony is introduced either to support/confirm a claim or to refute it. We must look at the definitions of the phrasal verbs to see which one logically fits this context.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let's analyze the meaning of each phrasal verb: Bear out (Correct): To support, confirm, substantiate, or corroborate a statement or claim. If the expert testimonies matched or supported the defense's perspective of the witness's claims (or supported the defense's own claims about them), "bear out" fits perfectly as a term meaning to substantiate. Bear down: To press down heavily, exert maximum effort, or move threateningly toward someone. This does not fit the context of managing arguments or testimonies. Cave in: To collapse inward, or to yield/submit under pressure. This is an action a person takes when giving up, not a function of a testimony. Hold up: While "hold up" can mean to remain valid or stand up to scrutiny (e.g., "The claims didn't hold up"), it is an intransitive verb phrase in that context. You cannot actively "hold up the claims" to mean confirm them in standard legal vocabulary testing the way you can "bear them out". Therefore, "bear out" is the most appropriate phrasal verb.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct phrasal verb to fill the blank is "bear out".
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