Idiomatic To arise, appear (make an appearance), come into being.
When the telephone first came along, it was mostly just for businesses and rich people, but eventually almost everyone got one.
3
Idiomatic To progress; to make progress; to quicken.
The renovation is coming along nicely, and should be ready within a month.
Derived terms
come-along, comealong
come along
intj
1
Expression of encouragement or mild reproach.
Come along, dear, there's no point crying over it.
Come along, Jane. Please finish your homework.
come-along
noun
Etymology Deverbal from come along.
1
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Technical A type of hand-operated winch used, for example, to tighten straps, chains, or ropes.
The kayak was tied to the roof of her car with two come alongs.
A chain-type come-along is not as popular as a wire rope come-along, because the chain type is usually heavier and is designed primarily to be rigged for straight pulls.1993, Robert Worsing, Rural Rescue and Emergency Care, →ISBN, page 64:
2 more examples
For heavy fences that are seriously out of alignment, it really helps to use a come-along — so long as you've got something solid to hitch it to and enough cable to pull with.1999, George Nash, Wooden Fences, →ISBN, page 221:
The come-along's construction is based on the same principles as that of the hackamore in Figure B, but it is more effective.2013, Fay E. Ward, The Cowboy at Work, →ISBN:
2
A type of hold used to restrain an opponent.
The martial arts teach thousands of come-along holds.2006, Mike Young, Martial Arts Techniques for Law Enforcement, →ISBN, page 155:
Marines use a come-along hold to control and move an opponent.2011, United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Close Combat Fighting Handbook, →ISBN:
1 more example
She flew at him and they went down hard on the floor, Gemma on top. Swiftly, she twisted his right arm back, attempting a vicious come-along hold, but as she did and Tolmacheff roared in pain, something slammed into the back of her head, sending her sprawling along the corridor.2012, Gabrielle Lord -, Death By Beauty: A PI Gemma Lincoln Novel, →ISBN: