To come by
/tu kʌm baɪ/
phrasal verbB1phrasal verb form
Definition
"To come by" is a phrase used when someone obtains or finds something, especially if it is rare, unusual, or difficult to get. It can also mean to visit a place or person briefly. The most common use is about getting something.
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See It in Action
To obtain or find something, especially something rare or hard to get
- •It's hard to come by good help these days.
- •He came by a rare book at the old bookstore.
- •Fresh vegetables come by less often in winter.
To visit someone or a place briefly
- •I'll come by your house after work.
- •She came by to say hello.
- •Can you come by the office tomorrow?
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "to come by" like "get," but it often means the thing is not easy to get or find.
- ✓Picture walking through a market looking for a rare fruit that is hard to find; when you find it, you have "come by" it.
- ✓It feels like the happiness or surprise when you finally find something you want but did not expect to get easily.
- ✓Sounds like "come by" → imagine something coming close to you, like a gift arriving by surprise.
- ✓In stories, characters "come by" treasures or secrets after searching hard.
- ✓NOT like "have" (which means owning something already); "come by" is about the action of obtaining or finding.
- ✓NOT like "buy" (which means paying money); "come by" can happen without money, like finding or receiving.
- ✓NOT like "visit" (which means spending time with someone), but "come by" can also mean a short visit.
Try Other Words
- •Obtain: to get something, often by effort (Use when emphasizing effort to get something)
- •Find: to discover something by looking (Use when the focus is on discovering or locating something)
- •Visit: to go see someone (Use when referring to going to a place or person briefly)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "to" (infinitive marker) + "come" (move toward) + "by" (near or past)
- •Etymology: From Old English "cuman" meaning to move or arrive, combined with "by" meaning near or past
- •Historical development: The phrase developed to mean arriving near or passing a place or person, then extended to mean obtaining something encountered along the way
- •Modern usage: Common in everyday English for talking about getting things or visiting briefly; often used in informal speech
Reflect & Connect
•When have you come by something that was hard to find or get? How did it feel?
•How does the meaning change when "to come by" is used for visiting someone instead of getting something?
Fill in the blanks
1.It is difficult to come by ___ like honesty and kindness in some people.
2.When you come by a rare book, you should ___ it carefully.
3.If you want to come by fresh fruit in winter, you might have to ___ far.
4.She said she would come by ___ after lunch to talk.
5.Unlike buying, to come by something does not always require ___.
6.When you come by an opportunity, it is important to ___ it.
7.If good help is hard to come by, the company may ___ problems.