Come across
1 Meet or find
Meaning
Meet or find by chance.
similar Bump into someone and run into someone are the same as come across someone. Stumble across, stumble on and stumble upon can also be used but are not as common.
Why across?
Across is used in some phrasal verbs with the idea of finding. It's a way of saying that something is somehow, usually by chance or accident, put in front of you or across your way.
Check out more phrasal verbs with the same preposition logic in Logic > across.
Collocations
So, what words go together with come across?
Examples
| I came across some old photos the other day. |
| I came across an old friend I hadn't seen for years. |
| I came across this article the other day and it got me thinking |
| We have never come across more friendlier and helpful staff. |
| The only problem I came across was the wait time. |
| I have never come across such a stubborn person. |
| I recently came across a most interesting website. |
| I came across the place by accident and really enjoyed it. |
| It was by chance that we came across the museum and it was a great. |
| We came across a lovely village with a row of traditional cottages. |
| Simply the best service I've ever come across. |
| We came across a little gem of a pub called the The Huntsman. |
| I first came across it when I was at Cambridge. |
Grammar
inseparable Don't separate this phrasal verb. It takes an object. Someone comes across something.
| I came across the article. |
| I came across it. |
2 Get an impression
Meaning
Give a certain impression or be percieved that way. Get an impression or idea from something.
similar Get across or put across are similar. You might try to get across or put across an idea: We need to get the message across that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for addicts.
Why across?
Across is used in some phrasal verbs to refer to the idea, impression or opinion that we get from someone or we give to other people.
Check out more phrasal verbs with the same preposition logic in Logic > across.
Examples
| He comes across as insecure and needy. |
| She comes across as a confident and upbeat person. |
| You've come across really well in the interview. |
| I don't think he's aware of how he comes across. |
| The thing that comes across is how much he was enjoying what he was doing. |
| The message comes across loud and clear. |
| What comes across is the author's enthusiasm. |
Grammar
inseparable Don't separate this phrasal verb in this context. Someone comes across as insecure, needy, confident and so on or something comes across in a particular way.