come across
verb8 senses
- 1Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see come, across.
- 2To change sides; to cross over to work for the opposition.
- 3To give an appearance or impression; to project a…
- 4To find, usually by accident.
- 5To produce what was desired; to come up with the goods.
- 6To give in and do what is wanted or expected; to…
- 7To have sex; to give in to seduction.
- 8To confess to something.
1
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see come, across.
- He came across the street towards me.
2
Figuratively To change sides; to cross over to work for the opposition.
- You argued well in court but your firm doesn't pay its lawyers well, so why don't you come across to ours?
3
Idiomatic To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image; to seem or appear (to be some way).
- How did she come across when you met with her?
- How did she come across to you?
3 more examples
- She came across as sharp and well-grounded.
- A business suit and adequate elocution help her to come across as the competent professional she is.
- “Because of the British empire, I mean. On which the sun never sets. There’s no offence intended. That’s what I want to be sure of. That the line doesn’t come across as an insult to your country’s glorious past.”2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 36:
4
Idiomatic To find, usually by accident.
- In the dark he came across an old box by accident.
5
To produce what was desired; to come up with the goods.
- Near-synonym: come through
- He came across with the rest of the money when we mentioned our lawyer.
1 more example
- "I'll die before I let my grandad pay you that much money!" blazed the girl. "That ain't unlikely either," retorted Shanan, "if ol' Bart Hendricks don't come across with the ransom."1929, Reginald Charles Barker, The Hair-trigger Brand, page 160:
6
Idiomatic To give in and do what is wanted or expected; to acquiesce to something.
- Near-synonym: come around