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come across
verb
(preposition) to meet or find by accident
(adverb) (of a person or his or her words) to communicate the intended meaning or impression
(often foll by with) to provide what is expected
Idioms and Phrases
Also, come upon ; run across . Meet or find by chance, as in I came across your old letters today , or He came upon her looking in the store window . or If I run across it, I'll call you . The first term dates from the 1800s. The first variant was used by Oliver Goldsmith in She Stoops to Conquer (1773): “You are to go sideways till you come upon Crack-Skull Common.” The second variant was used by Mark Twain in Tramp Abroad (1880): “If I don't run across you in Italy, you hunt me up in London.”
Also, come across with . Pay or give what is expected or demanded, as in He finally came across with some food , or The landlord wants the rent, so come across . [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]
Make a particular impression, as in He comes across as a very sincere person or Her meaning doesn't really come across; she'll have to revise the speech . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s] Also see get across ; put across .
Example Sentences
But this stammering, rather dull chap doesn’t come across as a genius.
Alison Bickers, from Chester, came across the border especially for the visit and said she was thrilled to see him because he "does so much for the environment".
"The thought of coming across someone stealing equipment - in the early hours of the morning, fully balaclava'd-up and in dark clothing - where you live, where your children are, it's not nice."
Sensing danger, the Argentina midfielder came across attempting to block the shot - but in doing so again vacated the central position in front of the defensive line.
And many say they haven't come across the concept of coffees made with ingredients like mushrooms and ashwagandha - a herb some people think helps with stress - before.
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