come-on

[ kuhm-on, -awn ]

/ ˈkʌmˌɒn, -ˌɔn /

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See synonyms for come-on on Thesaurus.com

noun Slang.

inducement; lure.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of come-on

1895–1900, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase come on

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use come-on in a sentence

Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, in Florida, Bush was flooded with questions about whether gay marriage could possibly come to the Sunshine State.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
These generally come from the outside, from cultural pressures and messages.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But there is an underlying feeling that the worst is yet to come.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

My agent at the time sent that tape to SNL and then they asked me to come in for an audition.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In their shelter, Brion and Ulv crouched low and wondered why the attack didn't come.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
Babylas raised his pale face; he knew what was coming; it had come so many times before.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
He reached forward and took her hands, and if Mrs. Vivian had come in she would have seen him kneeling at her daughter's feet.
Confidence|Henry James
Vicars' wives had come and gone, but all had submitted, some after a brief struggle, to old Mrs. Wurzel's sway.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
This wasn't at all what he meant to say, and it sounded very ridiculous; but somehow the words wouldn't come straight.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl

British Dictionary definitions for come-on

come on

verb (intr, mainly adverb)

(of power, a water supply, etc) to become available; start running or functioning

to make or show progress; developmy plants are coming on nicely

to advance, esp in battle

to beginshe felt a cold coming on; a new bowler has come on

theatre to make an entrance on stage

to be considered, esp in a court of law

(preposition) See come upon

come on!

hurry up!
cheer up! pull yourself together!
make an effort!
don't exaggerate! stick to the facts!

to attempt to give a specified impressionhe came on like a hard man

come on strong to make a forceful or exaggerated impression

come on to informal to make sexual advances to

noun come-on

informal anything that serves as a lure or enticement

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with come-on

come on

Move forward, progress, develop. For example, We stopped as soon as darkness began to come on. [Early 1600s]

Hurry up, as in Come on now, it's getting late. This imperative to urge someone forward has been so used since about 1450.

Also, come upon. Meet or find unexpectedly, as in We came on him while walking down the street, or I came upon an old friend in the bookstore today. [Second half of 1700s]

Make a stage entrance, as in After the next cue she comes on from the right. [Early 1800s]

Please oblige me, as in Come on, that's no excuse for leaving, or Come on, you'll really like this restaurant. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

Convey a specific personal image, as in He comes on like a go-getter but he's really rather timid. [Slang; c. 1940]

Also, come on strong. Behave or speak in an aggressive way, as in Take it easy; you're coming on awfully strong. [c. 1940]

Also, come on to. Make sexual advances, as in She reported her boss for coming on to her. This usage probably was derived from the earlier use of the noun come-on for a sexual advance. [Slang; 1950s]