Idioms with COME
The word COME takes you further than you think
From Sourov’s world: When I first came across English idioms in Australia, they didn’t come naturally at all. I remember sitting in the break room at Star Casino and my colleagues speaking — I could understand individual words, but the phrases slid past me. It took years before things started to come together. Now, after 18 years in Sydney’s hospitality industry and learning French to C1, I understand something deeply: language proficiency is a journey, and these COME idioms map that journey beautifully.
📚 Word Focus
These idioms all use the verb COME but their meanings are idiomatic — the literal meaning of “come” (to move towards) gives a clue, but the full meaning must be learned.
| Idiom | Meaning | Grammar note |
|---|---|---|
| come across | find or meet something/someone by chance | + object: come across a word |
| come up with | think of, invent, or produce an idea | + noun: come up with a plan |
| come to terms with | accept a difficult or painful situation | + noun: come to terms with loss |
| come into play | become relevant or start to have an effect | no object: factors come into play |
| come a long way | make great progress from a starting point | I’ve come a long way since… |
CCQ: If you “come across” a word, did you plan to find it? ❌ No — it was by chance. If someone has “come a long way”, have they literally walked far? ❌ No — they have improved significantly. If you “come to terms with” something, are you happy about it? ❌ Not necessarily — you’ve simply accepted it.
💡 Examples in Context
- I came across a great book on language learning in a second-hand shop.
- The team came up with a brilliant idea for the new summer menu.
- After losing his job, it took months to come to terms with the change.
- When planning a large event, budget, timing, and staffing all come into play.
- You’ve come a long way since your first lesson — your confidence is remarkable.
✏️ Quick Check
Complete each sentence with the correct COME idiom. You may need to change the verb tense:
- She ________ a great solution while she was in the shower.
- It took him a year to ________ his father’s passing.
- I ________ this old photo while I was packing up the kitchen.
- Cultural expectations ________ when you manage an international team.
- Look at your speaking now compared to six months ago — you’ve really ________!
Show answers ▼
- came up with
- come to terms with
- came across
- come into play
- come a long way
🗣️ Try It Yourself
Think about your own language learning journey. Write a short paragraph (3–4 sentences) using at least two COME idioms to describe your experience. For example: “I came across English movies as a child and fell in love with the language. I’ve come a long way since then, but I know there’s still more to learn.”
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.