Meaning
arise (a topic or issue); appear unexpectedly
Primary Function
intransitive phrasal verb indicating emergence of an idea or situation
Communicative Purpose
to signal the unexpected appearance of a subject or problem during conversation
Pattern
come up
Core Structure
come up
Função primária
intransitive phrasal verb indicating emergence of an idea or situation
Propósito comunicativo
to signal the unexpected appearance of a subject or problem during conversation
Situações de gatilho
during meetings, informal chats, when plans change unexpectedly
Contextos
everyday conversations, professional settings, spontaneous discussions
Padrão
come up
Estrutura central
come up
Slots de substituição
a topic came up; an issue came up; something came up
Colocados típicos
- in conversation
- during the meeting
- unexpectedly
Substituições comuns
- arise (formal)
- crop up (informal)
Erros comuns
'Come up' is intransitive – you cannot say 'come up a problem'; instead use 'a problem came up'.
Similar / contraste
bring up (introduce a topic deliberately) vs. come up (unplanned appearance).
Interferências
Learners often confuse 'come up' with 'come up with', leading to misuse as a productive verb.
Família do chunk
- upcoming
Nuance
Emphasizes unplanned or unscheduled emergence, not deliberate planning or suggestion.
Efeito pragmático
Acts as a conversational filler indicating an unexpected development or interruption.
Dica de memória
Something’s come up; I can’t make it now.
Nota
Intransitive phrasal verb used to describe the emergence of a topic or issue without prior planning.
Upgrade path
come up trumps (succeed – BrE)
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