Expressions With Come
The word “come” is one of the foundational verbs in the English language, playing an essential role in a wide range of expressions that communicate movement, arrival, or the beginning of an event. The versatility of “come” can be seen in its ability to blend into a multitude of phrases that enrich our daily conversations. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and colorful expressions that feature the word “come,” complete with examples to illustrate their usage.
Table of Contents
“Come full circle”
This expression suggests a return to the original position or state of affairs after a series of changes or a long journey.
Example: “The company has come full circle, returning to the values it started with 50 years ago.”
“Come to terms with”
To “come to terms with” something means to gradually accept a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: “She had to come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t control everything in life.”
“Come of age”
“Come of age” signifies reaching maturity, often used in the context of young people or organizations reaching a stage of development.
Example: “The young artist has truly come of age with this latest exhibition.”
“Come clean”
To “come clean” means to confess or be honest about something that has been kept secret.
Example: “It’s time for the politician to come clean about his involvement in the scandal.”
“Come to light”
When something “comes to light,” it becomes known or apparent, especially after being hidden.
Example: “New evidence has come to light, which might prove the defendant’s innocence.”
“Come what may”
“Come what may” indicates a determination to face and handle whatever future events may occur.
Example: “We’ll stick to our plan, come what may.”
“Come hell or high water”
This phrase expresses a strong determination to do something despite difficulties or obstacles.
Example: “She promised to finish her novel, come hell or high water.”
“Come into play”
To “come into play” means to start to have an effect or to be involved in a situation.
Example: “Several factors will come into play when determining the final cost of the project.”
“Come to a head”
When a situation “comes to a head,” it reaches a critical or pivotal point where a decision must be made or action must be taken.
Example: “The dispute between the two departments finally came to a head during the meeting.”
“Come to grips with”
To “come to grips with” something is to begin to understand and deal with a problem or situation.
Example: “The community is still coming to grips with the aftermath of the devastating storm.”
“Come out of one’s shell”
To “come out of one’s shell” means to become more outgoing and sociable after being shy or reserved.
Example: “He really came out of his shell in college, where he found his passion for theater.”
“Come under fire”
Someone who “comes under fire” faces criticism or opposition.
Example: “The CEO came under fire for her controversial remarks.”
“Come out on top”
To “come out on top” means to be successful or victorious in a challenge or competition.
Example: “Despite the setbacks, our team came out on top.”
“Come apart at the seams”
This expression depicts something or someone who is in a state of disintegration or emotional breakdown.
Example: “After losing his job, he felt like he was coming apart at the seams.”
“Come to blows”
To “come to blows” means to start fighting, usually with physical violence.
Example: “The heated argument almost saw the two politicians come to blows.”
“Come into one’s own”
To “come into one’s own” means to reach a level of success or confidence in a particular area.
Example: “As a writer, she really came into her own with her third novel.”
“Come out in the wash”
“Come out in the wash” suggests that a problem or misunderstanding will be resolved in time.
Example: “Don’t worry about those small mistakes; they’ll come out in the wash.”
“Come down with”
To “come down with” an illness means to begin to suffer from it.
Example: “Half the office has come down with the flu.”
“Come up for air”
This expression means to take a break after being very involved or busy with something.
Example: “After weeks of hard work on the project, I need to come up for air.”
“Come rain or shine”
“Come rain or shine” means regardless of any difficulties or obstacles; the commitment will be kept.
Example: “Our weekly outdoor yoga class takes place come rain or shine.”
“Come out of the woodwork”
To “come out of the woodwork” means to appear or emergefrom an unexpected or unknown place, often in large numbers.
Example: “As soon as he won the lottery, distant relatives came out of the woodwork asking for money.”
“Come to the fore”
To “come to the fore” means to become important or prominent in a situation or discussion.
Example: “The issue of climate change has come to the fore in recent political debates.”
“Come to one’s senses”
When someone “comes to their senses,” they begin to think clearly or behave sensibly after a period of foolishness or confusion.
Example: “After spending all his savings on a failed business idea, he finally came to his senses and got a stable job.”
“Come down on”
To “come down on” someone means to criticize or punish them severely.
Example: “The judge came down hard on the repeat offender, handing down the maximum sentence.”
“Come up trumps”
A British expression meaning to produce a surprisingly good result, especially in difficult circumstances.
Example: “Despite being the underdog, she came up trumps and won the championship.”
“Come up short”
To “come up short” means to fail to reach a target or standard.
Example: “The team came up short in the finals, losing by just two points.”
“Come into effect”
When a law, policy, or rule “comes into effect,” it starts to apply or is put into action.
Example: “The new regulations will come into effect next month.”
“Come out of nowhere”
To “come out of nowhere” means to appear suddenly and unexpectedly.
Example: “The small startup came out of nowhere and dominated the tech industry within a year.”
“Come to the party”
An idiomatic expression often used in Australia and New Zealand, meaning to agree to participate or contribute to something.
Example: “We need everyone to come to the party if we’re going to pull off this event successfully.”
Final Thoughts
The word “come” is a chameleon in English expressions, adapting to various contexts and complementing phrases to convey a plethora of meanings. From accepting reality, facing challenges, reaching maturity, to emerging victoriously, “come” expressions are integral to the rich tapestry of the English language. Mastery of these phrases not only enhances communication skills but also helps non-native speakers to sound more like native speakers, weaving these idioms into conversations with ease and confidence. Whether it’s in writing or speech, the expressions detailed above will help enrich your English communication and illustrate the remarkable adaptability of this simple verb.
