I. come 1 S1 W1 /kʌm/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense came /keɪm/, past participle come ) [intransitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: cuman ]
1 . MOVE TOWARDS SOMEBODY/SOMETHING to move towards you or arrive at the place where you are OPP go :
Let me know when they come.
Can you come here for a minute?
Come a bit closer and you’ll be able to see better.
What time will you be coming home?
come in/into/out of etc
There was a knock on the door and a young woman came into the room.
come to/towards
I could see a figure coming towards me.
come across/down/up etc
As they came down the track, the car skidded.
come to do something
I’ve come to see Philip.
come and do something
I’ll come and help you move the rest of the boxes.
Come and look at this!
come running/flying/speeding etc
Jess came flying round the corner and banged straight into me.
come to dinner/lunch
What day are your folks coming to dinner?
here comes somebody/something spoken (=used to say that someone or something is coming towards you)
Ah, here comes the bus at last!
2 . GO WITH SOMEBODY if someone comes with you, they go to a place with you:
We’re going for a drink this evening. Would you like to come?
come with
I asked Rosie if she’d like to come with us.
come along
It should be good fun. Why don’t you come along?
3 . TRAVEL TO A PLACE to travel to or reach a place:
Which way did you come?
come through/across/by way of etc
They came over the mountains in the north.
come from
Legend has it that the tribe came from across the Pacific Ocean.
come by car/train/bus etc
Will you be coming by train?
Have you come far (=travelled a long way) today?
I’ve come a long way to see you.
come 50/100 etc miles/kilometres
Some of the birds have come thousands of miles to winter here.
4 . POST if a letter etc comes, it is delivered to you by post SYN arrive :
A letter came for you this morning.
The phone bill hasn’t come yet.
5 . HAPPEN if a time or an event comes, it arrives or happens:
At last the day came for us to set off.
The moment had come for me to break the news to her.
The time will come when you’ll thank me for this.
Christmas seems to come earlier every year.
be/have yet to come (=used when something has not happened yet but will happen)
The most exciting part is yet to come.
I knew he’d be able to take care of himself, come what may (=whatever happens) .
6 . REACH A LEVEL/PLACE [always + adverb/preposition] to reach a particular level or place
come up/down
She had blonde hair which came down to her waist.
The water came up as far as my chest.
7 . BE PRODUCED/SOLD [always + adverb/preposition] to be produced or sold with particular features
come in
This particular sofa comes in four different colours.
Cats come in many shapes and sizes.
come with
The computer comes complete with software and games.
8 . ORDER [always + adverb/preposition] to be in a particular position in an order, a series, or a list
come before/after
P comes before Q in the alphabet.
come first/second etc
She came first in the 200 metres.
9 . come open/undone/loose etc to become open etc:
His shoelace had come undone.
The rope came loose.
10 . come to do something
a) to begin to have a feeling or opinion:
He came to think of Italy as his home.
I came to believe that he was innocent after all.
b) to do something by chance, without planning or intending to do it:
Can you tell me how the body came to be discovered?
come to be doing something
I often wondered how I came to be living in such a place.
11 . come and go
a) to be allowed to go into and leave a place whenever you want:
The students can come and go as they please.
b) to keep starting and stopping:
The pain comes and goes.
12 . take something as it comes to accept something as it happens, without trying to plan for it or change it:
We just take each year as it comes.
He takes life as it comes.
13 . have something coming (to you) informal to deserve to be punished or to have something bad happen to you:
I do feel sorry for him, but I’m afraid he had it coming.
14 . as nice/as stupid etc as they come informal extremely nice, stupid etc:
My uncle Walter is as obstinate as they come.
15 . for years/weeks/days etc to come used to emphasize that something will continue for a long time into the future:
This is a moment that will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
16 . in years/days to come in the future:
In years to come, some of the practices we take for granted now will seem quite barbaric.
17 . have come a long way to have made a lot of progress:
Computer technology has come a long way since the 1970s.
18 . come as a surprise/relief/blow etc (to somebody) to make someone feel surprised, ↑ relieve d, disappointed etc:
The decision came as a great relief to us all.
The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues.
19 . come easily/naturally (to somebody) to be easy for someone to do:
Public speaking does not come easily to most people.
Writing came naturally to her, even as a child.
20 . come of age
a) to reach the age when you are legally considered to be an adult:
He’ll inherit the money when he comes of age.
b) to develop into an advanced or successful form:
Space technology didn’t really come of age until the 1950s.
21 . come right out with something/come right out and say something informal to say something in a very direct way, often when other people think this is surprising:
You came right out and told him? I don’t know how you dared!
22 . come clean informal to tell the truth about something you have done
come clean about
I think you should come clean about where you were last night.
23 . not know whether you are coming or going informal to feel very confused because a lot of different things are happening:
I don’t know whether I’m coming or going this week.
24 . come good/right British English informal to end well, after there have been a lot of problems:
Don’t worry, it’ll all come right in the end.
25 . come to pass literary to happen after a period of time:
It came to pass that they had a son.
26 . SEX informal to have an ↑ orgasm
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
27 . come in! used to tell someone who has knocked on your door to enter your room, house etc:
She tapped timidly on the door. ‘Come in!’ boomed a deep voice from inside.
28 . how come? used to ask someone why or how something happened:
How come you’ve ended up here?
‘Last I heard, she was teaching in Mexico.’ ‘How come?’
29 . come to think of it/come to that used to add something that you have just realized or remembered:
Come to think of it, George did seem a bit depressed yesterday.
He had never expected to have a wife, or even a girlfriend come to that.
30 . come July/next year/the next day etc used to talk about a particular time in the future:
Come spring, you’ll have plenty of colour in the garden.
31 . come again? used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said
32 . don’t come the innocent/victim/helpless male etc with me British English used to tell someone not to pretend that they are something they are not in order to get sympathy or help from you:
Don’t come the poor struggling artist with me. You’re just lazy!
33 . come (now) old-fashioned used to comfort or gently encourage someone
34 . come, come!/come now old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not accept what they are saying or doing
come about phrasal verb
1 . to happen, especially in a way that is not planned:
The opportunity to get into computing came about quite by accident.
How did this situation come about?
2 . if a ship comes about, it changes direction
come across phrasal verb
1 . come across somebody/something to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance:
I came across an old diary in her desk.
I’ve never come across anyone quite like her before.
We’ve come across a few problems that need resolving.
REGISTER
In written English, people often use encounter when writing about problems or difficulties because this sounds more formal than come across :
▪
The team of researchers had encountered similar problems before.
2 . if an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand:
Your point really came across at the meeting.
3 . if someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities SYN come over
come across as
He comes across as a very intelligent sensitive man.
She sometimes comes across as being rather arrogant.
I don’t think I came across very well (=seemed to have good qualities) in the interview.
come across with something phrasal verb
to provide money or information when it is needed:
I hoped he might come across with a few facts.
come after somebody phrasal verb
to look for someone in order to hurt them, punish them, or get something from them:
She was terrified that Trevor would come after her.
come along phrasal verb
1 . be coming along informal to be developing or making progress SYN progress :
He opened the oven door to see how the food was coming along.
Your English is coming along really well.
2 . to appear or arrive:
A bus should come along any minute now.
Take any job opportunity that comes along.
3 .
a) to go to a place with someone:
We’re going into town – do you want to come along?
b) to go somewhere after someone:
You go on ahead – I’ll come along later.
4 . come along!
a) used to tell someone to hurry up SYN come on :
Come along! We’re all waiting for you!
b) used to encourage someone to try harder SYN come on :
Come along! Don’t give up yet!
come apart phrasal verb
1 . to split or fall into pieces:
I picked the magazine up and it came apart in my hands.
2 . to begin to fail:
The whole basis of the agreement was coming apart.
She felt as if her life was coming apart at the seams (=failing completely) .
come around phrasal verb
1 . ( also come round British English ) to come to someone’s home or the place where they work in order to visit them SYN come over :
I’ll come around later and see how you are.
Why don’t you come round for lunch?
2 . ( also come round British English ) to change your opinion so that you now agree with someone or are no longer angry with them
come around to
It took him a while to come around to the idea.
Don’t worry – she’ll come round eventually.
3 . ( also come round British English ) if a regular event comes around, it happens as usual:
By the time the summer came around, Kelly was feeling much better.
4 . American English to become conscious again after you have been unconscious SYN come round British English :
When she came around her mother was sitting by her bed.
come around from
You might feel a little sick when you come around from the anesthetic.
come at somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to move towards someone in a threatening way:
Suddenly, he came at me with a knife.
2 . if images, questions, facts etc come at you, you feel confused because there are too many of them at the same time:
Questions were coming at me from all directions.
3 . informal to consider or deal with a problem in a particular way SYN approach :
We need to come at the problem from a different angle.
come away phrasal verb
1 . to become separated from the main part of something SYN come off :
One of the wires in the plug had come away.
I turned some of the pages and they came away in my hand.
2 . to leave a place with a particular feeling or idea:
We came away thinking that we had done quite well.
come away with
I came away with the impression that the school was very well run.
come back phrasal verb
1 . to return to a particular place or person SYN return :
My mother was scared that if I left home I’d never come back.
Ginny’s left me, and there’s nothing I can do to persuade her to come back.
2 . to become fashionable or popular again ⇨ comeback :
Who’d have thought hippy gear would ever come back!
High heels are coming back into fashion.
3 . to appear or start to affect someone or something again SYN return :
The pain in her arm came back again.
It took a while for my confidence to come back.
4 . if something comes back to you, you remember it or remember how to do it:
As I walked the city streets, the memories came flooding back.
come back to
I can’t think of her name at the moment, but it’ll come back to me.
5 . to reply to someone quickly, often in an angry or unkind way ⇨ comeback
come back at
He came back at me immediately, accusing me of being a liar.
come before somebody/something phrasal verb formal
to be brought to someone in authority, especially a judge in a law court, to be judged or discussed by them:
When you come before the judge, it’s best to tell the truth.
The case will come before the courts next month.
come between somebody phrasal verb
1 . to make people argue and feel angry with each other, when they had been friends before:
Nothing will ever come between us now.
I didn’t want to come between a husband and wife.
2 . to prevent someone from giving enough attention to something:
She never let anything come between her and her work.
come by phrasal verb
1 . come by something to manage to get something that is rare or difficult to get:
How did you come by these pictures?
Jobs were hard to come by.
2 . come by (something) to make a short visit to a place on your way to somewhere else:
He said he’d come by later.
I’ll come by the house and get my stuff later, OK?
come down phrasal verb
1 .
a) if a price, level etc comes down, it gets lower:
It looks as if interest rates will come down again this month.
b) to accept a lower price
come down to
He’s asking £5,000, but he may be willing to come down to £4,800.
2 . if someone comes down to a place, they travel south to the place where you are:
Why don’t you come down for the weekend sometime?
come down to
Are you coming down to Knoxville for Christmas?
3 . to fall to the ground:
A lot of trees came down in the storm.
We were still out in the fields when the rain started coming down.
4 . come down on the side of somebody/something ( also come down in favour of somebody/something ) to decide to support someone or something:
The committee came down in favour of making the information public.
5 . informal to start to feel normal again after you have been feeling very happy and excited:
He was on a real high all last week and he’s only just come down.
6 . informal to stop feeling the effects of a strong drug:
When I came down, I remembered with horror some of the things I’d said.
7 . British English old-fashioned to leave a university after completing a period of study
come down on somebody phrasal verb
to punish someone or criticize them severely:
We need to come down hard on young offenders.
I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely) .
come down to somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . if a complicated situation or problem comes down to something, that is the single most important thing:
It all comes down to money in the end.
2 . if something old has come down to you, it has been passed between people over a long period of time until you have it:
The text which has come down to us is only a fragment of the original.
come down with something phrasal verb
to get an illness:
I think I’m coming down with a cold.
come for somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to arrive to collect someone or something:
I’ll come for you at about eight o'clock.
2 . to arrive at a place in order to take someone away by force:
Members of the secret police came for him in the middle of the night.
come forward phrasal verb
to offer help to someone, or offer to do something:
So far, only one candidate has come forward.
The police appealed for witnesses to come forward with information.
come from somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . if you come from a place, you were born there or lived there when you were young:
I come from London originally.
2 . to be obtained from a place, thing, or person, or to start or be made somewhere:
A lot of drugs come from quite common plants.
My information comes from a very reputable source.
The idea came from America.
3 . to happen as the result of doing something
come from doing something
Most of her problems come from expecting too much of people.
4 . coming from him/her/you etc spoken used to say that someone should not criticize another person for doing something, because they have done the same thing themselves:
You think I’m too selfish? That’s rich coming from you!
5 . where somebody is coming from informal the basic attitude or opinion someone has, which influences what they think, say, or do:
I see where you’re coming from now.
come in phrasal verb
1 . if a train, bus, plane, or ship comes in, it arrives at a place:
What time does your train come in?
come in to
We come in to Heathrow at nine in the morning.
2 . if money or information comes in, you receive it:
Reports are coming in of a massive earthquake in Mexico.
We haven’t got enough money coming in.
3 . to be involved in a plan, deal etc:
We need some financial advice – that’s where Kate comes in.
come in on
You had the chance to come in on the deal.
4 . to join in a conversation or discussion:
Can I come in here and add something to what you’re saying?
5 . to become fashionable or popular OPP go out :
Trainers really became popular in the 1980s, when casual sportswear came in.
6 . to finish a race
come in first/second etc
His horse came in second to last.
7 . if the ↑ tide comes in, the sea moves towards the land and covers the edge of it OPP go out
come in for something phrasal verb
come in for criticism/blame/scrutiny to be criticized, blamed etc for something:
The government has come in for fierce criticism over its handling of this affair.
come into something phrasal verb
1 . to receive money, land, or property from someone after they have died:
She’ll come into quite a lot of money when her father dies.
2 . to be involved in something:
Josie doesn’t come into the movie until quite near the end.
Where do I come into all this?
3 . come into view/sight if something comes into view, you begin to see it:
The mountains were just coming into view.
4 . come into leaf/flower/blossom to start to produce leaves or flowers:
The roses are just coming into flower.
5 . not come into it spoken used to say that something is not important:
Money doesn’t really come into it.
6 . come into your own to become very good, useful, or important in a particular situation:
On icy roads, a four-wheel drive vehicle really comes into its own.
come of something phrasal verb
to happen as a result of something:
I did ask a few questions, but nothing came of it.
That’s what comes of not practising – you’ve forgotten everything!
come off phrasal verb
1 . come off (something) to become removed from something:
The label had come off, so there was no way of knowing what was on the disk.
2 . come off (something) British English to fall off something:
Dyson came off his bike as he rounded the last corner, but wasn’t badly hurt.
3 . informal if something that has been planned comes off, it happens:
In the end the trip never came off.
4 . informal to be successful:
It was a good idea, but it didn’t quite come off.
The performance on the first night came off pretty well.
5 . come off something to stop taking a drug that you have been taking regularly:
It wasn’t until I tried to come off the pills that I realized I was addicted.
6 . come off best/better/worst etc British English to be the most or least successful, or get the most or least advantages from a situation:
As far as pensions go, it’s still women who come off worst.
7 . come off it! British English spoken used to tell someone that you do not believe what they are saying:
Oh come off it! You can’t seriously be saying you knew nothing about this.
come on phrasal verb
1 . come on! spoken
a) used to tell someone to hurry:
Come on, we’ll be late!
b) used to encourage someone to do something:
Come on, you can do it!
Come on, cheer up!
c) used to tell someone that you know that what they have just said was not true or right:
Oh come on, don’t lie!
d) used to make someone angry enough to want to fight you:
Come on, then, hit me!
2 . come on in/over/up etc spoken used to tell someone to come in, over, up etc, usually in a friendly way:
Come on in – I’ve made some coffee.
3 . if a light or machine comes on, it starts working:
A dog started barking and lights came on in the house.
4 . if an illness comes on, you start to be ill with it:
I can feel a headache coming on.
5 . if a television or radio programme comes on, it starts:
Just at that moment, the news came on.
6 . if rain or snow comes on, it starts:
The rain came on just before lunchtime.
7 . to come onto a stage or sports field:
He scored only two minutes after he’d come on.
8 . to improve or make progress:
The children are really coming on now.
Your English is coming on really well.
9 . come on somebody/something to find or discover someone or something by chance:
We came on a group of students having a picnic.
10 . come on strong informal to make it very clear to someone that you think they are sexually attractive
come on to somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to start talking about a new subject:
I’ll come on to this question in a few moments.
2 . informal if someone comes on to another person, they make it very clear that they are sexually interested in them ⇨ come-on :
The way she was coming on to Jack, I’m amazed he managed to get out alive!
come out phrasal verb
1 . if something comes out, it is removed from a place:
These stains will never come out!
2 . if information comes out, people learn about it, especially after it has been kept secret:
No doubt the truth will come out one day.
It’s come out that several ministers received payments from the company.
3 . if a photograph comes out, it shows a clear picture:
I took some photographs, but they didn’t come out.
The wedding photos have come out really well.
4 . if a book, record etc comes out, it becomes publicly available:
When is the new edition coming out?
5 . if something comes out in a particular way, that is what it is like after it has been made or produced:
I’ve made a cake, but it hasn’t come out very well.
The cover has come out a bit too big.
6 . if something you say comes out in a particular way, that is how it sounds or how it is understood:
His words came out as little more than a whisper.
That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.
I tried to explain everything to her, but it came out all wrong (=not in the way I intended) .
7 . if someone comes out in a particular way, that is the situation they are in at the end of an event or series of events:
The more experienced team came out on top.
come out of
She came out of the divorce quite well.
8 . to be easy to notice:
His right-wing opinions come out quite strongly in his later writings.
9 . to say publicly that you strongly support or oppose a plan, belief etc
come out in favour of
The board of directors has come out in favour of a merger.
come out against
Teachers have come out against the proposed changes.
At least he’s got the courage to come out and say what he thinks.
10 . if the sun, moon, or stars come out, they appear in the sky:
The sky cleared and the sun came out.
11 . if a flower comes out, it opens:
The snowdrops were just starting to come out.
12 . if someone comes out, they say that they are ↑ gay when this was a secret before
come out to
That summer, I decided to come out to my parents.
13 . British English informal to refuse to work, as a protest:
Nurses have threatened to come out in support of their pay claim.
We decided to come out on strike.
14 . if a young woman came out in the past, she was formally introduced into upper-class society at a large formal dance
come out at something phrasal verb
if something comes out at a particular amount, that is the amount it adds up to:
The whole trip, including fares, comes out at $900.
come out in something phrasal verb
come out in spots/a rash etc if you come out in spots etc, spots appear on your body:
If I eat eggs, I come out in a rash.
come out of something phrasal verb
1 . to no longer be in a bad situation:
There are signs that the country is coming out of recession.
2 . to happen as a result of something:
One or two excellent ideas came out of the meeting.
3 . come out of yourself informal to start to behave in a more confident way:
Penny’s really come out of herself since she started that course.
come out with something phrasal verb
to say something, especially something unusual or unexpected:
The things he comes out with are so funny!
come over phrasal verb
1 .
a) if someone comes over, they visit you at your house:
Do you want to come over on Friday evening?
b) if someone comes over, they come to the country where you are
come over to/from
When did your family first come over to America?
2 . come over somebody if a strong feeling comes over you, you suddenly experience it:
A wave of sleepiness came over me.
I’m sorry about that – I don’t know what came over me (=I do not know why I behaved in that way) .
3 . if an idea comes over well, people can understand it easily:
I thought that the points he was making came over quite clearly.
4 . if someone comes over in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities SYN come across :
He didn’t come over very well (=seem to have good qualities) in the interview.
come over as
She comes over as a very efficient businesswoman.
5 . come over (all) shy/nervous etc informal to suddenly become very shy, nervous etc
come round phrasal verb British English
to ↑ come around
come through phrasal verb
1 . if a piece of information, news etc comes through, it arrives somewhere:
We’re still waiting for our exam results to come through.
There is news just coming through of an explosion in a chemical factory.
2 . to be made official, especially by having the correct documents officially approved:
I’m still waiting for my divorce to come through.
3 . come through (something) to continue to live, be strong, or succeed after a difficult or dangerous time SYN survive :
If he comes through the operation OK he should be back to normal within a month.
It’s been a tough time, but I’m sure you’ll come through and be all the wiser for it.
come through with something phrasal verb
to give someone something they need, especially when they have been worried that you would not produce it in time:
Our representative in Hong Kong finally came through with the figures.
come to phrasal verb
1 . come to a decision/conclusion/agreement etc to decide something, agree on something etc after considering or discussing a situation SYN reach :
We came to the conclusion that there was no other way back to the camp.
If they don’t come to a decision by midnight, the talks will be abandoned.
2 . come to a halt/stop
a) to slow down and stop SYN stop :
The train came to a stop just yards from the barrier.
b) to stop operating or continuing:
After the election our funding came to an abrupt halt.
3 . come to something to develop so that a particular situation exists, usually a bad one:
I never thought it would come to this.
We need to be prepared to fight, but hopefully it won’t come to that (=that won’t be necessary) .
All those years of studying, and in the end it all came to nothing.
It’s come to something when I’m not allowed to express an opinion in my own house!
what is the world/the country etc coming to? (=used to say that the world etc is in a bad situation)
4 . come to something to add up to a total amount:
That comes to £23.50.
The bill came to £48.50.
5 . come to somebody if a thought or idea comes to you, you realize or remember something:
The answer came to me in a flash.
I’ve forgotten her name, but maybe it’ll come to me later.
6 . to become conscious again after you have been unconscious:
When he came to, he was lying on the floor with his hands tied behind his back.
7 . when it comes to something informal when you are dealing with something or talking about something:
He’s a bit of an expert when it comes to computers.
come under something phrasal verb
1 . come under attack/fire/scrutiny etc to be attacked, shot at etc:
The government has come under attack from opposition leaders over proposals to cut health spending.
2 . to be governed or controlled by a particular organization or person:
The organization comes under the authority of the EU.
3 . if a piece of information comes under a particular title, you can find it under that title:
The proposals come under three main headings.
come up phrasal verb
1 . if someone comes up to you, they come close to you, especially in order to speak to you:
One of the teachers came up and started talking to me.
come up to
A man came up to him and asked for a light.
2 . if someone comes up to a place, they travel north to the place where you are
come up to
Why don’t you come up to New York for the weekend?
3 . if a subject comes up, people mention it and discuss it SYN arise :
His name came up in the conversation.
The subject of salaries didn’t come up.
4 . if a problem or difficulty comes up, it appears or starts to affect you SYN arise :
I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel our date – something’s come up.
The same problems come up every time.
5 . if a job or an opportunity comes up, it becomes available:
A vacancy has come up in the accounts department.
6 . to be dealt with in a law court:
Your case comes up next week.
7 . be coming up to be going to happen soon:
With Christmas coming up, few people have much money to spare.
8 . if the sun or moon comes up, it moves up into the sky where you can see it SYN rise :
It was six o'clock, and the sun was just coming up.
9 . if a plant comes up, it begins to appear above the ground:
The first spring bulbs are just coming up.
10 . if food comes up, it goes back through your mouth from your stomach after being swallowed ⇨ vomit
11 . coming (right) up! spoken used to say that food or drink will be ready very soon:
‘Two Martinis, please.’ ‘Coming up!’
come up against something/somebody phrasal verb
to have to deal with problems or difficulties:
We may find we come up against quite a lot of opposition from local people.
You’ve got no idea of what you’re going to come up against.
come up for something phrasal verb
1 . come up for discussion/examination/review etc to be discussed, examined etc:
This matter will come up for discussion at next month’s meeting.
The regulations come up for review in April.
2 . come up for election/re-election/selection etc to reach the time when people have to vote about whether you should continue in a political position:
The governors come up for re-election next year.
come upon somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to find or discover something or someone by chance:
We came upon a cottage just on the edge of the wood.
2 . literary if a feeling comes upon you, you suddenly feel it:
A wave of tiredness came upon her.
come up to something/somebody phrasal verb
1 . to reach a particular standard or to be as good as you expected:
This doesn’t come up to the standard of your usual work.
The resort certainly failed to come up to expectations.
2 . be (just) coming up to something to be nearly a particular time:
It’s just coming up to 11 o'clock.
come up with something phrasal verb
1 . to think of an idea, answer etc:
Is that the best excuse you can come up with?
We’ve been asked to come up with some new ideas.
2 . informal to produce an amount of money:
We wanted to buy the house but we couldn’t come up with the cash.
How am I supposed to come up with $10,000?
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ arrive to get to the place you are going to:
I arrived at the party at around 7 o'clock.
|
They were due to arrive home from Spain yesterday.
▪ get to arrive somewhere. Get is much more common in everyday English than arrive :
What time do you usually get to work?
|
I’ll call you when I get home.
▪ reach to arrive somewhere, especially after a long journey:
When we finally reached the port, we were all very tired.
▪ come if someone comes, they arrive at the place where you are:
She came home yesterday.
|
What time did the plumber say he’d come?
▪ turn up ( also show up ) informal to arrive somewhere, especially when someone is waiting for you:
I’d arranged to meet Tom, but he never turned up.
▪ roll in informal to arrive somewhere later than you should and not seem worried about it:
Rebecca usually rolls in around noon.
▪ get in to arrive somewhere – used especially about people arriving home, or a plane, train etc arriving at an airport, station etc:
I usually get in at around 6 o'clock.
|
What time did your plane get in?
▪ come in if a plane, train, or ship comes in, it arrives in the place where you are:
We liked to watch the cruise ships come in.
▪ land if a plane or the passengers on it land, they arrive on the ground:
We finally landed at 2 a.m.
|
They watched the planes taking off and landing.
II. come 2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable] informal
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ come 1 (19) ]
a man’s ↑ semen (=the liquid he produces during sex)