English Phrase of the Day

come on

Definitions

English > English
come on
1. n. alternative form of come-on
My birthday will come on a Friday this year.
2. v. (intransitive, idiomatic, with to) To show sexual or relational interest through words or sometimes actions.
She started coming on to me as soon as my wife left the room.
3. v. (intransitive) To appear on a stage or in a performance.
I think he's coming on too late after my line.
4. v. (intransitive) To appear on a television broadcast.
I was going to turn off the TV, but my favorite show came on.
5. v. (intransitive) To progress, to develop.
The new garden is coming on nicely.
6. v. (intransitive, idiomatic, colloquial, UK) To get one's period, start menstruating.
7. v. To encounter, discover; to come upon.
Turning the corner, I came on Julia sitting by the riverbank.
8. v. (sports) To enter the playing field.
9. v. (intransitive, informal, Southern, US, always used with a preposition: in, by, round, over, up, down) To visit.
Don't just stand there on the doorstep, come on in!
Next time you're in the area, come on by.
Don't leave without coming on round to see the baby.
You said to come on over whenever I get the chance, and here I am!
Come on up to my place on the third floor.
Come on down to see me if you're in my neck of the woods.
10. interj. An expression of encouragement.
Come on, George! You can win!
11. interj. An expression of disbelief.
Come on! You can't possibly expect me to believe that.
12. interj. hurry up
Come on, we don't want to miss the train.
13. interj. An expression of frustration, exasperation, or impatience.
Aw, come on! Get on with it!
14. interj. come along with me
I'll show you where the auditorium is. Come on!
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!
on
1. adj. In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
2. adj. Performing according to schedule.
Are we still on for tonight?
Is the show still on?
3. adj. (chiefly UK, informal, usually negative) Acceptable, appropriate.

Example Sentences

Come on sweetheart, do it again.

Come on, let's have a little enthusiasm.

Come on into the house, I give you some cookies.

We have to rally them, come on!

Come on, do you know how many campaigns he's been on before?

Review Previous Phrases

grow up	run away	nip in the bud	hold on
believe it or not	power plant	on the whole	over my dead body
trunk	crack down	on fire	dry out
put down	over there	put across	early riser

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