English Phrase of the Day

Definitions

English > English
come across
1. v. To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.
A business suit and briefcase help her to come across as the competent professional she is.
2. v. To find, usually by accident.
In the meadow he will come across a rare flower.
3. v. To change sides (literally or figuratively); to ask someone 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?
Analysis
come		©
1. v. (intransitive) To move from further away to nearer to.
She’ll be coming ’round the mountain when she comes...
2. v.          To move towards the speaker.
I called the dog, but she wouldn't come.
Stop dawdling and come here!
across		©
1. prep. To, toward or from the far side of (something that lies between two points of interest).
We rowed across the river.
Fortunately, there was a bridge across the river.
He came across the street to meet me.
2. prep. On the opposite side of (something that lies between two points of interest).

Example Sentences

I didn't mean it to come across like that.  She said that she had been watching my signature change from male to a female on the purchasing requisitions that come across her desk.  Occasionally you come across the odd bird, like this one, that bucks the species's trend and trots into view before slinking back into the shadows.

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