come-on
/ˈkʌm.ɒn/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʌmˈɑn] /ˈkʌm.ɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈʌmˈɑn] /ˈkəm-ˌȯn -ˌän/ (ame, mw)
come-on — 名詞
1. a word, look, or action that clearly shows you want to start a romantic or sexua
調情；挑逗
表達性興趣的言行
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.
Theo 把那個女人的微笑當成調情，於是走到她桌邊。
countable noun: 'take something as a come-on'
The woman at the bar gave Omar an obvious come-on by holding his gaze.
酒吧裡的那個女人直盯著 Omar，給了他一個很明顯的挑逗。
collocation: 'give someone an obvious come-on'
Some people cannot tell the difference between a friendly chat and a real come-on.
有些人分不清友善的閒聊和真正的調情有什麼差別。
Mei-Lin laughed off his comment and said it was the worst come-on she had ever heard.
Mei-Lin 笑著把他說的話帶過，說那是她聽過最爛的調情話。
- 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
誘餌；噱頭
吸引顧客買東西的優惠
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.
免費手機只是個誘餌，目的是讓人簽下兩年合約。
pattern: 'just a come-on to [infinitive]'
The supermarket used half-price milk as a come-on to bring in morning shoppers.
那間超市用半價牛奶當誘餌，吸引早上的顧客上門。
collocation: 'use [item] as a come-on'
The bank offered a cash reward as a come-on for opening a new account.
銀行提供了現金回饋作為開設新帳戶的誘餌。
Critics said the discount was just a come-on with hidden fees waiting later.
批評者說那個折扣只是個噱頭，後面藏著隱藏費用。
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
進展；進步
隨時間逐漸進步，且符合預期
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.
Anika 上個月種的幼苗在溫暖的天氣下長得很好。
continuous tense with adverb: 'coming on nicely'
Wei's English is really coming on since he started watching films without subtitles.
Wei 開始看沒有字幕的電影之後，英文真的進步了很多。
The restoration of the old boat is coming on well — the woodwork is almost finished.
那艘舊船的修復工作進展得很順利——木工部分差不多完成了。
The building work is coming on slowly because of the bad weather this winter.
今年冬天因為天氣不好，工程進展得很慢。
Ravi's cooking skills are coming on fast now that he watches online tutorials every evening.
Ravi 每天晚上看網路教學影片之後，廚藝進步得很快。
- 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
快點；拜託
催促、鼓勵或表示不信的感嘆詞
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!
快點，巴士再五分鐘就要開了，我們還沒準備好！
imperative urging hurry
Oh, come on — you cannot seriously believe that story he told us.
拜託喔——你不會真的相信他講的那個故事吧。
disbelief: 'Oh, come on' + challenge
Come on, Kofi, you can finish the last lap — you are almost there!
加油啊 Kofi，最後一圈了，你快到了！
Come on, do not give up now — the hardest part is behind you.
加油，現在別放棄——最難的部分已經過去了。
Come on, everyone — we will miss the opening scene if we do not leave now.
大家快點——現在不走就趕不上開場了。
Come on, we are going to be late for the train if you keep looking for your keys.
快點，你要是繼續找鑰匙，我們就要趕不上火車了。
Tomás said the film was boring, and Sara replied, 'Oh, come on — it was brilliant!'
Tomás 說那部電影很無聊，Sara 回說：「拜託喔——明明很好看！」
Come on, you cannot expect me to believe that the dog ate your homework again.
拜託喔，你總不會又要我相信你的作業被狗吃了吧。
Come on, no one actually believes that story — tell us what really happened.
拜託喔，根本沒人會相信那個故事——快說實話吧。
- 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
給人印象
表現出某種個人形象
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.
Ingrid 一開始給人的印象很嚴肅，但認識之後你會發現她很有幽默感。
pattern: 'come on as [adjective]'
In job interviews, Finn tries not to come on too strong because it might seem aggressive.
面試時 Finn 儘量不表現得太強勢，因為可能會讓人覺得有攻擊性。
collocation: 'come on too strong'
The politician came on as a friend of ordinary people, but many voters did not trust him.
那位政治人物表現得像平民的朋友，但很多選民並不信任他。
Omar comes on quite shy around new people, but he is very talkative with friends.
Omar 在不熟的人面前顯得很害羞，但跟朋友在一起時話很多。
- 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
挑逗；勾引
表現出對某人的性趣
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.
Deepa 的酒都還沒喝完，酒吧裡就有個男人開始勾引她。
phrasal structure: 'come on to [person]'
Elena did not realise her colleague was coming on to her until he asked for her number.
Elena 一直沒發現同事在對她調情，直到對方跟她要電話號碼。
Hiro was too shy to come on to anyone at the party, so he just watched from the food table.
Hiro 太害羞了，在派對上完全不敢跟任何人調情，只好站在食物桌旁觀望。
The waiter kept coming on to Luisa even though she was clearly on a date.
那名服務生不斷挑逗 Luisa，即使她明顯正在約會。
- 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 — 片語動詞
- 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
登台；出場
走上舞台表演或演講
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.
主唱一出場，群眾立刻爆出熱烈的歡呼與掌聲。
The speaker came on and waited for the audience to settle down before she started.
演講者走上台，等聽眾安靜下來之後才開始講話。
simple past: 'came on' for entering stage
The band came on at nine and played for two hours straight.
樂團晚上九點登台，連續演奏了兩個小時。
A comedian came on before the main show to warm up the crowd.
一位喜劇演員在主秀之前上台暖場。
- 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
替補上場
比賽中替換隊友出賽
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.
Amara 在下半場替補上場，不到十分鐘就踢進了致勝的一球。
time phrase: 'came on in the [period]'
The injured player was taken off, and a younger midfielder came on to take his place.
受傷的選手被換下場，一名年輕的中場球員上場取代了他的位置。
The new striker came on in the last ten minutes but hardly touched the ball.
那名新前鋒在最後十分鐘替補上場，但幾乎沒碰到球。
A young goalkeeper came on after the first choice got a red card.
一名年輕的守門員在第一號門將拿到紅牌之後上場。
- 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
開始；降臨
開始發生（天氣、症狀等）
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.
天色漸漸暗了下來，登山客決定在河邊紮營。
'came on' for time / weather change
The rainy season usually comes on in late June and lasts until September.
雨季通常在六月底開始，一直持續到九月。
'come on' for seasons / weather
Nora felt a headache coming on during the long meeting and asked for a glass of water.
Nora 在冗長的會議中感到頭痛開始發作，於是請人倒了一杯水。
Winter came on quickly this year, with snow arriving before November.
今年冬天來得很快，十一月就下雪了。
Kofi felt a cough coming on just before his big presentation at work.
Kofi 在做重要的簡報之前開始咳嗽了。
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
啟動；亮起
電器或燈光開始運作
to begin working or operating — used for lights, machines, engines, or electrical devices.
The streetlights come on automatically when the sun goes down.
太陽下山時，路燈會自動亮起來。
subject = lights, automatic operation
The heating came on at six in the morning, and the house slowly got warmer.
暖氣早上六點啟動，屋子慢慢變暖和了。
The alarm came on when someone tried to open the back door at night.
有人半夜試圖打開後門的時候，警報器響了起來。
The engine came on with a loud noise and the boat moved away from the dock.
引擎發出巨大聲響啟動了，船慢慢駛離碼頭。
- 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
偶然發現
無意中遇到某人或找到某物
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.
Somsak 在清理閣樓時，偶然發現了一箱祖父留下來的舊信。
finding something unexpectedly
Tuan came on an interesting website while searching for information about local history.
Tuan 在搜尋當地歷史資訊時，意外發現一個有趣的網站。
I came on this lovely little café while walking through the old town district.
我在老城區散步時，偶然發現了這家可愛的小咖啡館。
Nadia came on an old photograph of her parents when they were still at university.
Nadia 偶然發現了一張她父母還在讀大學時的舊照片。
- 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.