American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
.pdfunexpectedly, as in We came on him while walking down the street, or I came upon an old friend in the bookstore today. [Second half of 1700s] 4. Make a stage entrance, as in After the next cue she comes on from the right. [Early 1800s] 5. Please oblige me, as in Come on, that's no excuse for leaving, or Come on, you'll really like this restaurant. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] 6. Convey a specific personal image, as in He comes on like a go-getter but he's really rather timid. [Slang; c. 1940] 7. Also, come on strong. Behave or speak in an aggressive way, as in Take it easy; you're coming on awfully strong. [c. 1940] 8. Also, come on to. Make sexual advances, as in She reported her boss for coming on to her. This usage probably was derived from the earlier use of the noun come-on for a sexual advance. [Slang; 1950s]
come one's way
Present itself, happen to, as in I sure hope another opportunity like that will come her way. [First half of 1900s]
come on in
Please enter, as in Come on in, the door's open. This phrase is simply a friendly request to enter one's house or some other place. The related come on in, the water's fine originated as an encouragement (or, sometimes, a command) to a reluctant or fearful swimmer but has been extended to other activities, as in Come on in, the water's fine?
this is a great office to work in!
come on strong
hand. see
come on to
hand. see
come out
COME ON, def. 7.
COME ON, def. 8.
1. Become known, be discovered, as in The whole story came out at the trial. [c. 1200] 2. Be issued or brought out, as in My new book is coming out this month. [Late 1500s] 3. Make a formal debut in society or on the stage, as in In New York, debutantes come out in winter. [Late 1700s]
4.End up, result, as in Everything came out wrong. [Mid-1800s] Also see COME OUT AHEAD.
5.come out for or against. Declare oneself publicly in favor of or opposed to
someone or something, as in The governor came out for a tax cut, or Many senators came out against the bill. [Late 1800s] 6. Also, come out of the closet. Reveal that one is homosexual, as in The military has specific policies regarding soldiers who come out of the closet while enlisted. [Mid-1900s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with COME OUT.
come out ahead
Succeed, make a profit. For example, By the end of the year we expect to come out ahead. Also
see AHEAD OF THE GAME.
come out for
hand. see COME OUT, def. 5.
come out in the wash, it will
A problem will be solved or difficulties will disappear. For example, Don't worry about the fight you got into?
it'll all come out in the wash. Cervantes had this metaphoric use of laundry for cleaning up a mess or difficulty in Don Quixote (Todo saldrá en la colada) and it has been repeated ever since. [Early 1600s]
come out of Also, come from or come of. Issue, proceed, or result from, as in What good can come out of all this wrangling? or Where are these questions coming from? or What do you think will come of this change? The first term dates from the early 1600s, the second from the early 1200s, and the third from the late 1500s. Also see WHERE ONE IS COMING FROM.
come out of nowhere
hand. see OUT OF NOWHERE.
come out of the closet
hand. see COME OUT, def. 6.
come out with Also, come right out with. 1. Put into words; speak frankly. For example, He always comes right out with the truth, or She can always come out with a pun. The first term dates from the mid-1400s, the variant from the second half of the 1800s. 2. Make public, publish, as in I don't know why they're coming out with yet another biography of Truman. [Late 1500s]
come over
1.Change sides or positions, as in He's decided to come over to their side. [Second half of 1500s]
2.Happen to or affect, as in Why are you leaving? What's come over you? or A sudden fit of impatience came over her. [First half of 1900s] 3. Pay a casual visit, as in I want to show you my garden, so please come over soon. This usage employs come over in the sense of "crossing an intervening space" (from somewhere to one's home). [c. 1600]
come round
hand. see COME AROUND.
come through
1. Also, come through with. Do what is required or anticipated; succeed. For example, My parents really came through for me when I needed help, or He came through with flying colors.
[Late 1800s] 2. Become manifested or be communicated, as in He tried to keep a straight face but his true feelings came through nevertheless. [Mid-1900s] 3. Be approved, as in If the second mortgage comes through, we can afford to redecorate.
come to
1. Recover consciousness, as in She fainted but quickly came to. [Second half of 1500s] 2. Arrive at, learn, as in I came to see that Tom had been right all along. [c. 1700] 3. See AMOUNT TO,
def. 2. 4. See WHEN IT COMES TO. 5. Stop a sailboat or other vessel by bringing the bow into the wind or dropping anchor, as in "The gale having gone over, we came to" (Richard Dana, Two Years Before the Mast, 1840). [Early 1700s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with COME TO.
come to a halt Also, come to a standstill. Stop, either permanently or temporarily. For example, The sergeant ordered the men to come to a halt, or With the strike, construction came to a standstill. Both terms employ come to in the sense of "arrive at" or "reach," a usage dating from the 10th century. Also see COME TO, def. 2.
come to a head
hand. see BRING TO A HEAD.
come to an end
1. Conclude, terminate, as in the familiar proverb, All things come to an end, stated by Geoffrey Chaucer in Troilus and Cressida (c. 1374). 2. come to a bad end; come to no good. Have a bad outcome or die in an unpleasant way. For example, I always suspected this venture would come to no good, or Her parents feared he would come to a bad end. 3. come to or meet an untimely end. Die at a young age, terminate much sooner than desired or expected. For example, The blow was fatal, causing the young boxer to meet an untimely end, or Our partnership came to an untimely end when I became too ill to work. Also see
come to blows
Begin to fight. For example, It hardly seems worth coming to blows over a dollar! Thomas Hobbes had it in Leviathan (1651): "Their controversie must either come to blowes, or be undecided." This term is also put as fall to blows, especially in Britain. [Late 1500s]
come to grief
Meet with disaster or failure. For example, The icy runway caused at least one light plane to come to grief. [Mid-1800s]
come to grips with
Confront squarely, deal decisively with, as in Her stories help the children come to grips with upsetting events. This term, sometimes put as get to grips with, employs grip in the sense of a "tight hold." [Mid1900s]
come to life
hand. see COME ALIVE.
come to light
Be clearly revealed or exposed, as in New facts about evolution have come to light with the latest fossil discoveries in Africa. Miles Coverdale had this idiom in his translation of the Bible (Ezekiel 16:57): "And before thy wickednesse came to light." [First half of 1500s]
come to mind Be recollected, occur to one, as in A new idea just came to mind. This phrase replaced the earlier come in mind, which dates from the late 1300s. Also see BRING TO
MIND; CALL TO MIND; ENTER ONE'S MIND.
come to no good
hand. see COME TO AN END, def. 2.
come to nothing Also, come to naught. Fail, as in All his efforts have come to nothing, or The last round of peace talks came to naught. The first term dates from the mid-1500s, the variant from the early 1600s.
come to one's senses
Return to thinking or behaving sensibly and reasonably; recover consciousness. For example, I wish he'd come to his senses and stop playing around. This term employs senses in the sense of "normal or sane mental faculties," and in the earliest recorded use (1637) it meant "recover from a swoon." Its broader present-day meaning dates from the mid-1800s. The related bring someone to his or her senses was used by John Gay in his Beggars' Opera (1727). Also see TAKE LEAVE
(OF ONE'S SENSES).
come to pass
hand. see COME ABOUT.
come to terms
1. Reach an agreement, as in The landlord and his tenants soon came to terms regarding repairs.
[Early 1700s] 2. come to terms with. Reconcile oneself to, as in He'd been trying to come to terms with his early life. [Mid-1800s]
come to that
hand. see WHEN IT COMES TO.
come to the point
hand. see TO THE POINT.
come to the same thing
hand. see AMOUNT TO THE SAME THING.
come to think of it
Remember or consider on reflection. For example, Come to think of it, I've got to send in my order
now, or I was going to lend him a saw, but come to think of it, he already has one. [First half of 1800s]
come true
Happen as predicted, be realized or fulfilled, as in Her marriage is my fondest dream come true. [Early 1800s]
come under
1. Fit into a category or classification, as in This document comes under the heading "classified."
[Mid1600s] 2. Be the responsibility or province of, as in My department comes under your jurisdiction. [Early 1700s]
come unglued Also, come unstuck. 
hand. See COME APART AT THE SEAMS.
come up
1. Arise, present itself, as in This question never came up. [Mid-1800s] 2. Rise (from a lower place to a higher one) as in We'll leave as soon as the sun comes up. [9th century] 3. Also, come up to.
Approach, come near, as in He came up and said hello, or The dog came right up to Nora. [Early 1700s] 4. Also, come up to. Rise in status or value, be equal to, as in His paintings will never come up to his teacher's, or This officer came up through the ranks. [c. 1600] A variant is come up or rise in the world, used for someone who has risen in rank, wealth, or status; for example,
He has really come up in the world?
he now owns a yacht, or I could see at once that she was a woman who would rise in the world.
Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with COME UP.
come up against
Encounter, especially an obstacle or problem. For example, I've never come up against anything I can't handle, or Dealing with Malcolm is like coming up against a brick wall.
come up in the world
hand. see COME UP, def. 4.
come upon
hand. see COME ACROSS, def. 1; COME ON, def. 3.
come up roses
1. Turn out extremely well, as in I had my doubts about this project, but now it's coming up roses.
[Slang; c. 1960] 2. come up smelling like roses. Emerge untarnished from a difficult situation, have no stain on one's character, as in He was suspended for a month but still came up smelling like roses. Eric Partridge believed this usage originally was fall into shit and come up smelling like roses, but the vulgar initial phrase is now generally omitted. [Slang; first half of 1900s]
come up to
hand. see COME UP, def. 3 and 4.
come up with
Produce, supply; also, discover. For example, Henry always comes up with the wrong answer, or
We're hoping they come up with a cure in time to help Aunt Alice. [First half of 1900s]
come what may
No matter what happens, as in Come what may, I'll be home in time for dinner. This phrase, in slightly different form, come what will, dates from the 16th century and has almost exact equivalents in French, Italian, and German.
come with the territory
Accompany specific circumstances, as in You may not like the new coach, but he comes with the territory, or As the editor, you may not like listening to complaints, but it comes with the territory.
This term uses territory in the sense of "sales district," and the phrase originally meant that traveling sales personnel had to accept whatever problems or perquisites they found in their assigned region. Today it is applied in many other contexts. [Second half of 1900s]
comfort
hand. see COLD COMFORT; CREATURE COMFORTS; TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
comfortable as an old shoe, as
Familiar and very much at ease, as in Kathy's really enjoying her third summer at the same camp?
for her it's comfortable as an old shoe. This simile was once put as easy as an old shoe, first recorded in J.T. Brockett's North Country Glossary (1825). It was most often applied to friends, as in the proverb Old shoes are easy, old friends are best, but today it is used more broadly for easy familiarity in any situation.
coming
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with COMING, also see GET WHAT'S
COMING TO ONE; HAVE ANOTHER GUESS COMING; HAVE IT COMING; WHERE ONE IS COMING FROM. Also see under COME.
coming and going, have someone
Catch someone both ways, give someone no way out. For example, If Jane accepted the transfer she would have to move, but if she turned it down she would have to travel more?
they had her coming and going. Also see COMING OR GOING.
coming or going, not know if one is
Be in a state of mental confusion, as in He has so much to do that he doesn't know if he's coming or going. This idiom was first recorded in 1924.
coming out of one's ears
Overabundant, more than can be managed, as in We miscalculated?
new orders are coming out of our ears. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see EMBARRASSMENT OF
RICHES.
comings and goings Movements, activities, as in He's in and out of the office; I can't keep up with his comings and goings, or In her job on the school board, Mrs. Smith keeps track of all the comings and goings in town.
command
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with COMMAND, also see HAVE A GOOD
COMMAND.
command performance
An occasion that one is obliged to attend, as in My boss's invitations to dinner are always a command performance. This term originally (late 1800s) denoted a theatrical or musical performance presented at the behest of a sovereign or head of state. By the 1930s it was also used figuratively for any more or less obligatory occasion or performance.
commission
hand. see IN COMMISSION; ON COMMISSION; OUT OF COMMISSION.
commit to memory
Learn by heart, memorize, as in The director insisted that the altos commit their part to memory by Tuesday. First recorded in 1875, this phrase today is often replaced by the shorter memorize.
common
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with COMMON, also see IN COMMON.
common cause
A joint interest, as in ''The common cause against the enemies of piety" (from John Dryden's poem, Religio laici, or a Layman's Faith, 1682). This term originated as to make common cause (with), meaning "to unite one's interest with another's." In the mid-1900s the name Common Cause was adopted by a liberal lobbying group.
common ground
Shared beliefs or interests, a foundation for mutual understanding. For example, The European Union is struggling to find common ground for establishing a single currency. [1920s]
common touch, the
The ability to appeal to the ordinary person's sensibilities and interests. For example, The governor
is an effective state leader who also happens to have the common touch. This phrase employs common in the sense of "everyday" or "ordinary." [c. 1940]
commotion
hand. see CAUSE A COMMOTION.
company
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with COMPANY, also see KEEP SOMEONE
COMPANY; MISERY LOVES COMPANY; PART COMPANY; TWO'S COMPANY.
company man
A male worker more loyal to management than to his fellow workers; also, one who informs on fellow employees. For example, He'll never join in a strike; he's a company man. Dating from the 1920s, a period of considerable labor unrest, this term uses company in the sense of "a business concern" and was often applied as a criticism by supporters of labor unions.
company manners
One's best behavior, as in George never interrupts when we have guests; he has fine company manners. This term employs company in the sense of "guests." An older variant, Tell me thy company and I'll tell thee thy manners, uses company in the sense of "companions." The current term implies that one is more mindful of politeness with invited guests.
compare
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with COMPARE, also see BEYOND COMPARE.
compare notes
Exchange information, observations, or opinions about something, as in Michael and Jane always compare notes after a department meeting. This term originally referred to written notes. [c. 1700]
complain
hand. see CAN'T COMPLAIN.
compliment
hand. see LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT; PAY A COMPLIMENT; RETURN THE COMPLIMENT.
concern
hand. see AS FAR AS THAT GOES (IS CONCERNED); TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
conclusion
hand. see FOREGONE CONCLUSION; JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.
condition
hand. see IN CONDITION; MINT CONDITION; ON CONDITION THAT; OUT OF CONDITION.
confidence
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with CONFIDENCE, also see IN CONFIDENCE;
TAKE INTO ONE'S CONFIDENCE.
confidence game Also, confidence trick; con game. A swindle in which the victim is defrauded after his or her trust has been won. For example, The police warned of a confidence game in which people were asked to turn over valuables for a so-called appraisal, or The typical confidence trick is easy to spot if you know what to look for, or I almost let myself be taken in by her con game?
she seemed so sincere. These terms, which use confidence in the sense of "trust," date from the mid-1800s. They also gave rise to confidence man (or con man) for the swindler.
conk out
1. Stop functioning, fail, as in The engine finally conked out. [Colloquial; early 1900s] 2. Fall asleep, as in Every evening he conked out in front of the television set. [1940s] 3. Faint or collapse, as in I don't know if it was the heat, but she suddenly conked out. [1920s] 4. Die, as in He's paranoid about conking out and he's only twenty! [Late 1920s]
conniption
hand. see HAVE A FIT (CONNIPTION).
conquer
hand. see DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
conscience
hand. see HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE; IN CONSCIENCE.
consequence
hand. see IN CONSEQUENCE; OF CONSEQUENCE.
consideration
hand. see IN CONSIDERATION OF; TAKE INTO ACCOUNT (CONSIDERATION); UNDER CONSIDERATION.
conspicuous by its absence Also, conspicuous by one's absence. Glaringly obvious by the
fact of not being there. For example, One agenda item concerning publicity is conspicuous by its absence, or The bride's father was conspicuous by his absence. The idea is ancient; it was expressed by the Roman writer Tacitus, concerning the absence of Junia's brother and husband at her funeral procession. [Mid-1800s]
conspiracy of silence
A tacit or explicit agreement to keep something secret. For example, In this state's medical society there is a conspiracy of silence regarding incompetent practitioners. This term was first used as a complaint about lack of attention, but today it more often refers to remaining silent about something unfavorable or criminal. [Late 1800s]
contempt
hand. see FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.
content
hand. see TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT.
contention
hand. see BONE OF CONTENTION.
contradiction in terms
A statement that seems to contradict itself, with one part of it denying another. For example, I've always believed that "a poor millionaire" was a contradiction in terms. [Late 1700s]
contrary
hand. see ON THE CONTRARY; TO THE CONTRARY.
control
hand. see OUT OF CONTROL; SPIN CONTROL.
convenience
hand. see AT ONE'S CONVENIENCE.
conventional wisdom
A widely held belief on which most people act. For example, According to conventional wisdom, an incumbent nearly always wins more votes than a new candidate. This term was invented by John Kenneth Galbraith, who used it in The Affluent Society (1958) to describe economic ideas that are familiar, predictable, and therefore accepted by the general public. Today it is used in any context where public opinion has considerable influence on the course of events.
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