moment for action or decision comes: When it comes to the point they rarely effect any real reform. come to a pretty pass • come to pass come to a pretty pass —reach a critical state or an unfortunate condition: While he was away, things had come to a pretty pass . come to pass —(dated) happen; occur: No one knows for sure how the accident came to pass . come to grass • go to grass come to grass—(Mining) come up to the pit-head: Let us now watch the men ascending from the mine after work. This is what they call “coming to grass .” Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase come off the grass(Austral. sl.) used as an expression of disbelief or a plea to stop talking nonsense: Come off the grass , Mary. High Court judges are not the Alpha and Omega of all wisdom. go to grass —1. (of cattle) graze: The vaccination program for dairy calves should be completed before they go to grass . 2. (coll.) fall down; come to the ground: His legs got tangled and he went to grass , losing the race. 3. (coll.) go on a holiday or into retirement: A gentleman declared that he might go to grass with his old canoe. 4. (dated) is used to rudely tell a per- son to go away and stop being annoying (also: go to grass and eat hay): She fell into a fit of anger, bidding him to “go to grass with his invitations.” come to hand • get out of hand come to hand —(formal) come within notice: A much supe- rior illustration of the subject came to hand in a pamphlet en- titled “A Discourse on Language.” get out of hand—become beyond control: The training of police personnel needs a special attention, otherwise I am afraid the situation will get out of hand . come to it • go to it come to it(also: come to this) reach a state, usually unpleas- ant: “So John has got to start earning his living?” “We all have to come to it ,” he said with a smile. go to it—(coll., often imper.) make a special effort; begin working hard: After dinner we went to it again, carting paints and easels about. come to one’s senses • regain one’s senses come to one’s senses—1. regain consciousness; stop feeling faint: It wasn’t until long afterwards that she began to come to her senses . 2. start behaving sensibly: When will she come to her senses and see that he is a totally unsuitable man to marry? regain one’s senses— = come to one’s senses 1: She felt faint in the hot room, but going out into the fresh air she quickly re - gained her senses . come to pieces • go to pieces come to pieces—1. break into pieces; disintegrate: Halfway home the body of the car literally came to pieces . 2. come apart so that smth. is in separate pieces: Does this machine come to pieces ? go to pieces —(also: fall to pieces) 1. = come to pieces 1: The vessel is going to pieces , and it is full time for all who can, to leave her. 2. collapse physically or morally; become hysterical: At the news of her brother’s death she went completely to pieces . 3. (of an organization, business, etc.) become weak; fail: Since Mr. White handed over the management to his son, the business has gone to pieces . come to the front • go to the front come to the front—1. (also: come to the fore) become well known or popular: He had come to the front as the Prince Charming of politics — young, handsome, and popular. 2. be revealed; manifest itself: At such a time his true boastful self would come to the front . go to the front—take an advanced or forward position; take the lead in a race, etc.: Sans Egal went to the front at once and opened a lead of some six lengths. come together • go together come together—1. gather or meet: The family must come to - gether for the parents’ silver wedding. 2. be reconciled; settle the differences: I’m so glad that you two have decided to come together at last. go together—1. (of things) match; suit each other: Do you think this hat and coat go well together ? 2. happen together: Since music and dance usually go together , it’s worth knowing what children learn in music. 3. keep each other company (with a view to marriage): Jim and Mary had been going to - gether for two years before they were married. come under the name of • go under the name of come under the name of —be classified or categorized as: He says there is no reason for de-facto or same-sex relationships to come under the name of “marriage.” go under the name of—be known by a specific name; use a name different from one’s own: He went under the name of Baker, to avoid discovery by the police. come up • go up come up—1. (of plants) appear above the soil: I sowed some beans three weeks ago, but they haven’t come up yet. 2. (of a question, etc.) arise; be mentioned: His name came up when- ever the matter of nuclear energy was discussed. 3. (legal) be considered (in a court of law): The paper announced the cases that were to come up at the assizes the following day. 4. (of an opportunity, etc.) arise; occur: I’ll let you know as soon as a vacancy comes up . 5. rise in status, rank, etc.: That politician has come up in my opinion since I heard his last speech. go up—1. (of the curtain) rise: The lights went down and the curtain went up . 2. be constructed: New universities went up at a fantastic rate in the 1960s. 3. = come up 5: Jane has gone up in my estimation since she did that. 4. move to the next higher class at school: Did all the children go up at the end of the year? 5. (of prices, etc.) rise; increase: Everything seems to be going up these days: coal, groceries, rents. 6. be shattered by explosion: The munition factory went up when the bomb fell on it. come up against a brick wall • run one’s head into a brick wall come up against a brick wall—(also: come up against a blank wall) encounter an insurmountable obstacle or difficulty: So far, our efforts to stop the smuggling of protected species have come up against a brick wall . Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase have one’s back against the wall—(also: be up against the wall) have run out of options; be pushed to the last extremity: I don’t give up easy and have had my back against the wall be- fore. I don’t intend to give up without a battle. run one’s head into a brick wall—(coll.) persist with smth. without making any progress (also: run one’s head into a stone wall): Trying to persuade him to change his plans is like run - ning your head into a brick wall . come up against someone • run up against someone come up against someone—(also: go up against someone) chal- lenge a competitor in a contest, election, etc: Although he rode very well, he came up against an opponent who tactically rode even better. come to a pretty pass – 84 –