come across
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++come across → come across at come1(PHRASAL VERB)
come across
come across phrasal verb (see also come)
1. come across somebody/something to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance:
I came across an old diary in her desk.
I’ve never come across anyone quite like her before.
We’ve come across a few problems that need resolving.
REGISTER
In written English, people often use encounter when writing about problems or difficulties because this sounds more formal than come across:
▪The team of researchers had encountered similar problems before.
2. if an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand:
Your point really came across at the meeting.
3. if someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities
SYN come over
come across as
He comes across as a very intelligent sensitive man.
She sometimes comes across as being rather arrogant.
I don’t think I came across very well (=seemed to have good qualities) in the interview.
come across phrasal verb (see also come)
1. come across somebody/something to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance:
REGISTER
In written English, people often use encounter when writing about problems or difficulties because this sounds more formal than come across:
▪
2. if an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand:
3. if someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities
SYN come over
come across as
See also come