come by

Học thuật
Thân thiện
come by

We frequently come by the neighbors' house for a cup of coffee.

Definition

Verb: 1. To obtain or acquire something, often with some difficulty or by chance: This meaning focuses on getting possession of something, implying it may not be easily available. 2. To visit someone informally or spontaneously: This meaning describes making a short, unplanned visit to a place or person.

Examples
  • Meaning 1 (Obtain):
    • How did you come by such a rare book? (How did you manage to get such a rare book?)
    • Jobs are hard to come by in this economic climate. (Jobs are difficult to obtain in this economic climate.)
  • Meaning 2 (Visit):
    • Feel free to come by my office anytime tomorrow. (Feel free to visit my office informally anytime tomorrow.)
    • I'll come by around eight o'clock to pick up the package. (I will stop by around eight o'clock to get the package.)
Advanced Usage
  • "come by (something) honestly": To acquire something, especially a trait or possession, in a legitimate or deserved way.
    • He came by his fortune honestly through years of hard work. (He acquired his fortune legitimately through years of hard work.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Drop by: A very close synonym for the "visit" meaning, emphasizing informality and lack of prior arrangement.
    • She said she might drop by later.
  • Come into: To inherit or acquire something, often money or property.
    • She came into a large inheritance.
  • Procure: A more formal synonym for "obtain," often used in the first meaning of "come by."
Synonyms
  • Obtain, acquire, get (for meaning 1).
  • Visit, stop by, drop in, swing by (for meaning 2).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Come across: To find or encounter something or someone by chance.
    • I came across your keys on the table.
  • Come into: As listed above, to inherit.
  • Come over: To visit someone's home.
    • Why don't you come over for dinner?
Related Idioms
  • Hard to come by: Difficult to find or obtain.
    • True friendship is hard to come by.
  • Easy to come by: Readily available or easy to obtain.
    • Cheap souvenirs are easy to come by in the tourist district.
come by

We frequently come by the neighbors' house for a cup of coffee.

Verb
  1. obtain, especially accidentally
  2. visit informally and spontaneously
    • We frequently drop by the neighbors' house for a cup of coffee

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống