come
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come of sthg. phr v [T no pass.] 1 to result from: I doubt if any good will come of these peace initiatives. [+v-ing] The car crashed into a tree - that's what comes of buying cheap tyres! 2 to be descended from: She comes of/from a farming family. 3 come of age to reach an age (usually 18 or 21) when you are considered by law to be responsible for yourself and for obedience to the law -> see also COMING OF AGE
come off phr v 1 [I;T(= come off sthg.)] to become unfastened or disconnected (from): A button came off as I was climbing over the wall. | The hook came off the wall when I hung up my coat. | Does the lid come off or is it fixed? 2 [I] to take place; happen: The wedding came off as planned. 3 [I] to succeed; have the intended effect: It was a clever joke but it didn't quite come off. 4 [+ADV] to finish in the stated way; have the stated degree of success: She came off rather badly in the debate. 5 Come off it! infml Stop lying or pretending!: Now come off it - I never said that!
come on phr v [I] 1 to start or appear: I can feel a headache coming on. | There is a storm coming on. | What time does that programme come on? | [+to-v] (especially BrE) It came on to rain. 2 to COME along (1, 3) 3 Come on! a) Try harder! Make an effort!: Come on, Liverpool! b) Hurry up! c) Cheer up! d) you know what someone just said is not right: 'It'll take at least two hours to do this!' 'Oh, come on! I could do it in 20 minutes!' 4 come on strong to say things that show clearly that you think someone is sexually attractive, in a way that is unpleasant: I always come on too strong with men and send the message that I'm desperate to get a husband. | Brock came on so strong with a friend of mine that he scared her off -> see also COME-ON, STRONG 5 Come on down! an expression that was made popular by the television GAME SHOW The Price is Right in which CONTESTANTS have to guess the price of different products in order to win prizes. The phrase is used to invite a member of the AUDIENCE to take part in the show as a contestant.
come out phr v [I] 1 to appear: The stars came out as soon as it was dark. | When will her new book come out? (=be offered for sale) 2 to become clear or publicly known, especially after being kept secret: At last the truth has come out. | It eventually came out that he had been stealing money from his employers. 3 (of colour, a mark etc) to be removed, especially by washing; disappear: I've washed this shirt twice and the ink still hasn't come out. 4 [+ADV/PREP] to declare yourself publicly, especially to be in favour of or against a plan, belief etc: The committee has come out strongly against any change in the law. | Most of the speakers came out in favour of/in support of these proposals. 5 [+ADV/PREP] to finish in the stated way or position: The answer to the sum came out wrong/right. | In a series of safety tests, this was the car that came out on top. 6 (of a photograph) to be successfully developed (DEVELOP): Our holiday photos didn't come out. 7 to declare yourself openly (for example to your family and friends) to be a HOMOSEXUAL 8 BrE to refuse to work; STRIKE: The teachers are coming out in support of their pay claim. 9 becoming rare (of a young lady of the upper classes) to be formally introduced in upper-class society, usually at a dance: Amanda is coming out next spring. | debutantes at a coming-out party
come out in sthg. phr v [T no pass.] to become partly covered by (marks caused by an illness or disease): Jean has come out in spots, so she's staying in bed. -> see also OUT-COME
come out with sthg. phr v [T no pass.] infml to say, especially suddenly or unexpectedly: John came out with a really stupid remark.
come over phr v 1 [(to, from)] to come after travelling a long distance: When did you first come over to England? 2 [I] to make a short informal visit: Come over and see us sometime. 3 [I] to be effective and well received; COME ACROSS: Your talk came over very well. 4 [I(to)] to change sides or opinions, especially so as to join the speaker's side 5 [T(= come over sbdy.) no pass.] (of a sudden strong feeling) to take hold of (someone) suddenly and strangely: A feeling of faintness came over me, so I had to lie down. | (humor) What's come over him? He's quite polite today! (=this is very unusual) 6 [L+adj] infml, especially BrE (especially followed by adjectives of feeling or illness) to become: I suddenly came over a bit queasy, so I had to lie down.
come round BrE || come around AmE - phr v [I] 1 also come to - to regain consciousness 2 [(to)] to change side or opinions: He'll soon come round to our way of thinking. 3 to happen as usual: Christmas will soon be coming round again. 4 to become calmer after being in a bad temper: Leave him alone and he'll soon come round. 5 to make a short informal visit to someone who lives nearby
come through phr v 1 [I] (especially of news, results etc) to become publicly known: Have your examination results come through yet? | News has just come through that the man has been caught. 2 [I;T(= come through (sthg.)) no pass.] to continue to live or exist after (a difficult or dangerous event or situation) SURVIVE: The driver had lost so much blood that he was lucky to come through (the operation).
come to sbdy./sthg. phr v 1 [T no pass.] to arrive at a particular state or position: At last the war came to an end. | It has come to my attention/my notice that some money is missing. | We came to the conclusion that she was telling the truth. | I'll come straight to the point - when do you want the money? | All this sex and violence on the TV - what is the world coming to? (=shows disapproval and anxiety) -> see also COME 2 [T] to amount to: The bill came to £5.50. 3 [T+obj/v-ing; no pass.] to concern: When it comes to politics/to repairing cars I know nothing. 4 [T no pass.] to enter the mind, especially suddenly: I can't remember her name now - it'll come to me later. 5 come to oneself a) to regain self-control b) to regain consciousness 6 have something coming to one to receive (something deserved, especially something bad): He thinks he's got away with it but he's got a big surprise coming to him! -> see also come to grief (GRIEF), come to grips with (GRIP), come to heel (HEEL) come to life (LIFE)
come under sthg. phr v [T no pass.] 1 to be governed or controlled by: This comes under the jurisdiction of the Education Secretary. 2 to be able to be found below or after (a key word HEADING etc): What section does this come under? -> see also COME, come under the hammer (HAMMER)
come up phr v [I] 1 to come to attention or consideration: Your question came up at the meeting. -> compare BRING UP 2 to happen in the course of time, especially unexpectedly: I'll let you know if anything comes up. I'll be late home - something's just come up at work. 3 to come near, especially by walking; APPROACH: He came up and asked me if I knew the time. 4 come up in the world to reach a higher standard of living or social class
come up against sthg./sbdy. phr v [T no pass.] to meet (usually a difficulty or opposition); ENCOUNTER: They came up against a number of unexpected problems.
come upon sbdy./sthg. phr v [T no pass.] to COME ACROSS
come up to sthg. phr v [T] to equal: Your recent work hasn't come up to your usual high standards.
come up with sthg. phr v [T no pass.] infml to think of (a plan, reply etc); produce: The airline has come up with a novel solution to the problem of jet-lag.
come² interj (an expression of not very strong disapproval): Come, come! You can't expect me to believe that!
come-back /'kʌmbæk/ n [C usually sing.] 1 a return to a former position of strength, importance, or high position after a period of absence: The old actor made/staged a successful comeback after twenty years. 2 a clever quick reply; RETORT -> see also COME BACK
Come 'Dancing a British television programme in which COUPLES and teams compete in a BALLROOM DANCING competition
co·me·di·an /kə'mi:diən/, co·me·di·enne /kə,mi:di'en/ fem. -n 1 a person, especially a professional entertainer who tells jokes or does amusing things to make people laugh 2 an actor who plays funny parts in plays or films
come-down /'kʌmdaun/ n [C usually sing.] infml 1 a fall in importance, rank, or respect: She used to have a big car, so she finds it a bit of a comedown to have to go everywhere by bus. 2 an ANTICLIMAX: After such a wonderful holiday it was rather a comedown to have to start work again. -> see also COME DOWN
com·e·dy /'kɒmidi||'ka:-/ n 1 [C,U] a (type of) funny play, film, or other work in which the story and characters are amusing and which ends happily: Shakespeare's comedies | Do you prefer comedy or tragedy? | a comedy show on TV 2 [U] the amusing quality of something; HUMOUR: At last