stumble across

Idioms and Phrases

Also, stumble on . Find by chance, discover or meet with unexpectedly. For example, When we were hiking up the mountain we stumbled across a few abandoned shepherd's huts , or At the flea market Alfred stumbled on a quite valuable old lithograph . This idiom uses stumble in the sense of “accidentally trip.” [Mid-1500s]

Example Sentences

Families from the country frequently stumble across these places by accident.

From Project Gutenberg

He will not lower nor raise his voice for the sake of the profane and idle who may chance to stumble across his entertainment.

From Project Gutenberg

They keep digging around until they stumble across something and then tear things to pieces.

From Project Gutenberg

If you are unlucky enough to stumble across my path again, though, I shall be less merciful.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not accidentally stumble across success, but he deliberately aimed at what he hit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrive at
• catch
• reach
• seize
• take