come-on
/ˈkʌm.ɒn/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʌmˈɑn] /ˈkʌm.ɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈʌmˈɑn] /ˈkəm-ˌȯn -ˌän/ (ame, mw)
come-on — noun
1. a word, look, or action that clearly shows you want to start a romantic or sexua
a word, look, or action that clearly shows you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.
Theo took the woman's smile as a come-on and walked over to her table.
countable noun: 'take something as a come-on'
The woman at the bar gave Omar an obvious come-on by holding his gaze.
collocation: 'give someone an obvious come-on'
Some people cannot tell the difference between a friendly chat and a real come-on.
Mei-Lin laughed off his comment and said it was the worst come-on she had ever heard.
- advance
more neutral and slightly more formal
- pickup line
specifically a verbal remark, often a prepared phrase
- pass
closer to 'advance', as in 'make a pass at someone'
文法句型
give someone a come-on
a come-on line
用法筆記
Commonly used in informal conversations about dating or flirting. Frequently takes adjectives like 'obvious', 'blatant', or 'clear'.
常見錯誤
2. a special offer, low price, or free gift that a seller uses to persuade people t
a special offer, low price, or free gift that a seller uses to persuade people to buy a product or service.
The free phone was just a come-on to get people to sign a two-year contract.
pattern: 'just a come-on to [infinitive]'
The supermarket used half-price milk as a come-on to bring in morning shoppers.
collocation: 'use [item] as a come-on'
The bank offered a cash reward as a come-on for opening a new account.
Critics said the discount was just a come-on with hidden fees waiting later.
- lure
stronger, often implying deception
- bait
more informal, suggesting someone is being tricked
- enticement
more neutral and slightly more formal
文法句型
use something as a come-on
a come-on to attract customers
用法筆記
Often carries a slightly negative tone — a come-on is seen as a trick or a way to hide the real cost. Less common than sense 1 and mostly used in business or advertising contexts.
常見錯誤
come-on — verb
- come-onpresent simple I / you / we / they
- come-ons3rd person singular
- come-oning-ing form
- come-onedpast simple
1. to make progress or develop, especially gradually and in a way that meets your h
to make progress or develop, especially gradually and in a way that meets your hopes or expectations.
The seedlings Anika planted last month are coming on nicely in the warm weather.
continuous tense with adverb: 'coming on nicely'
Wei's English is really coming on since he started watching films without subtitles.
The restoration of the old boat is coming on well — the woodwork is almost finished.
The building work is coming on slowly because of the bad weather this winter.
Ravi's cooking skills are coming on fast now that he watches online tutorials every evening.
- deteriorate
to become worse instead of improving
文法句型
be coming on
come on [adverb]
用法筆記
Very often used in the continuous form (is coming on / was coming on). The adverb 'nicely', 'well', or 'slowly' almost always follows. Often used to ask about or report the progress of a planned project or activity — 'How is your project coming on?'
2. used as an exclamation to urge someone to act faster, to encourage them, or to s
used as an exclamation to urge someone to act faster, to encourage them, or to show you think what they said is not true.
Come on, the bus leaves in five minutes and we are not ready yet!
imperative urging hurry
Oh, come on — you cannot seriously believe that story he told us.
disbelief: 'Oh, come on' + challenge
Come on, Kofi, you can finish the last lap — you are almost there!
Come on, do not give up now — the hardest part is behind you.
Come on, everyone — we will miss the opening scene if we do not leave now.
Come on, we are going to be late for the train if you keep looking for your keys.
Tomás said the film was boring, and Sara replied, 'Oh, come on — it was brilliant!'
Come on, you cannot expect me to believe that the dog ate your homework again.
Come on, no one actually believes that story — tell us what really happened.
- hurry up
only covers the hurry meaning, not encouragement or disbelief
- go on
British English, similar range of uses
- you're kidding
covers the disbelief meaning only
文法句型
Come on!
Oh, come on!
用法筆記
The three functions (hurry, encourage, disbelief) are distinguished by tone and context. Hurry: sharp and urgent. Encourage: warm and supportive. Disbelief: drawn-out, often preceded by 'Oh'. This sense is always in the imperative form.
常見錯誤
3. to give other people a particular impression of your personality or attitude whe
to give other people a particular impression of your personality or attitude when they meet you.
Ingrid comes on as very serious at first, but she has a great sense of humour once you know her.
pattern: 'come on as [adjective]'
In job interviews, Finn tries not to come on too strong because it might seem aggressive.
collocation: 'come on too strong'
The politician came on as a friend of ordinary people, but many voters did not trust him.
Omar comes on quite shy around new people, but he is very talkative with friends.
- come across as
more common in modern English for the same meaning
- seem
simpler and more general
文法句型
come on as [adjective/noun]
come on [adverb]
用法筆記
The phrase 'come on too strong' is a very common fixed expression meaning to seem too forceful or intense. The adverb 'across' (come across) is much more frequent than 'come on' for this sense in modern English. For the 'project a personal image' meaning, 'come across' is the standard choice; 'come on' is less common and may sound slightly old-fashioned, though it is still acceptable in informal conversation.
4. to show someone in a direct way that you are sexually attracted to them, usually
to show someone in a direct way that you are sexually attracted to them, usually through words or body language.
A man at the bar started coming on to Deepa before she finished her drink.
phrasal structure: 'come on to [person]'
Elena did not realise her colleague was coming on to her until he asked for her number.
Hiro was too shy to come on to anyone at the party, so he just watched from the food table.
The waiter kept coming on to Luisa even though she was clearly on a date.
- hit on
American English, same meaning but slightly more informal
- make a pass at
slightly old-fashioned but still understood
- flirt with
softer; can be playful without serious intent
- ignore
to show no romantic or sexual interest at all
文法句型
come on to someone
用法筆記
Almost always appears with the preposition 'to' ('come on to someone'). Stronger and more direct than 'flirt with'. Can be unwelcome — the context makes the tone clear.
常見錯誤
come-on — phrasal verb
- come-onbase form
- come-ons3rd person singular
- come-oning-ing form
- come-onedpast simple
1. to walk onto a stage in front of an audience in order to perform or give a speec
to walk onto a stage in front of an audience in order to perform or give a speech.
When the lead singer came on, the crowd burst into loud cheers and applause.
The speaker came on and waited for the audience to settle down before she started.
simple past: 'came on' for entering stage
The band came on at nine and played for two hours straight.
A comedian came on before the main show to warm up the crowd.
- leave the stage
the opposite action
文法句型
come on [adverb/prep]
come on stage
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always about performance or public speaking. Not used for walking into a room — that is 'come in'. Audience reaction (applause, silence) is often mentioned.
2. to enter a game or match as a substitute player, replacing someone from your tea
to enter a game or match as a substitute player, replacing someone from your team.
Amara came on in the second half and scored the winning goal within ten minutes.
time phrase: 'came on in the [period]'
The injured player was taken off, and a younger midfielder came on to take his place.
The new striker came on in the last ten minutes but hardly touched the ball.
A young goalkeeper came on after the first choice got a red card.
- come off
to leave the field during a game
文法句型
come on [as a substitute]
come on for [player]
用法筆記
Used in team sports such as football, rugby, basketball, and hockey. The opposite is 'come off' (to leave the game).
常見錯誤
3. to start happening or to begin to take place — used for natural events, weather
to start happening or to begin to take place — used for natural events, weather changes, or physical sensations.
As darkness came on, the hikers decided to set up their tent near the river.
'came on' for time / weather change
The rainy season usually comes on in late June and lasts until September.
'come on' for seasons / weather
Nora felt a headache coming on during the long meeting and asked for a glass of water.
Winter came on quickly this year, with snow arriving before November.
Kofi felt a cough coming on just before his big presentation at work.
文法句型
come on [time period / event]
feel [something] coming on
用法筆記
Frequently used for physical sensations (a headache, a cold, a cough) or natural events (a storm, winter, night). The pattern 'feel something coming on' is very common for symptoms. This sense exclusively covers the 'begin to happen' meaning — verb sense 1 (PROGRESS GRADUALLY) does not cover this function.
4. to begin working or operating — used for lights, machines, engines, or electrica
to begin working or operating — used for lights, machines, engines, or electrical devices.
The streetlights come on automatically when the sun goes down.
subject = lights, automatic operation
The heating came on at six in the morning, and the house slowly got warmer.
The alarm came on when someone tried to open the back door at night.
The engine came on with a loud noise and the boat moved away from the dock.
- go off
stop operating
文法句型
come on (of a machine/light)
用法筆記
The opposite is 'go off' (stop working). Unlike 'turn on', 'come on' suggests the device activates by itself or according to a timer, not by a person's action.
常見錯誤
5. to meet someone or find something unexpectedly, without having planned or looked
to meet someone or find something unexpectedly, without having planned or looked for it.
While cleaning the attic, Somsak came on an old box of letters from his grandfather.
finding something unexpectedly
Tuan came on an interesting website while searching for information about local history.
I came on this lovely little café while walking through the old town district.
Nadia came on an old photograph of her parents when they were still at university.
- come across
the standard modern alternative
- stumble upon
suggests more surprise
- discover
more formal
文法句型
come on [something/someone]
come across
用法筆記
The form 'come across' is far more common in modern English for this meaning. 'Come on' in this sense sounds slightly old-fashioned or literary.