come on
Very High (A1-A2)Primarily informal, conversational. Rare in formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
A versatile phrasal verb and interjection primarily used to encourage someone to act, to hurry up, to challenge disbelief, or to begin (as of an event or condition).
Can express disbelief, encouragement, persuasion, challenge, irritation, or signal the onset of something (e.g., rain, sickness). In sports, it cheers on a team. Informally, can flirtatiously mean 'to show romantic/sexual interest'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly context-dependent. Tone of voice is crucial: it can be friendly, impatient, sarcastic, or challenging. As a verb (to come on to someone), it is idiomatic and informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Come on' is universal. The verb phrase 'come on to' (flirt) is understood in both, but might be slightly more frequent in AmE. BrE might use 'come along' interchangeably in some encouraging contexts.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In AmE, 'Come on!' as an exclamation might be used more aggressively in disputes.
Frequency
Extremely high and virtually identical in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[imperative] Come on![subject] come on ([adverb])[subject] come on to [object] (flirt)[subject] come on + infinitive (AmE informal: 'Don't come on tell me...')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come on strong (be aggressive/enthusiastic)”
- “come on the scene (arrive/appear)”
- “come on to someone (flirt)”
- “coming on like gangbusters (starting very vigorously)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in very informal team settings: 'Come on, team, we need those reports.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Extremely common in spoken language for encouragement, urgency, or disbelief.
Technical
Not used. Except possibly in computing/engineering: 'the system came on(line).'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I think I'm coming on with the flu.
- The new policy will come on stream next quarter.
- He was accused of coming on to a colleague.
American English
- She totally came on to him at the bar.
- The generator comes on automatically during a blackout.
- Don't come on so strong in the meeting.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Come on! The bus is leaving.
- Come on, it's time for school.
- The TV won't come on.
- Come on, you're better than that!
- I felt a headache coming on.
- Come on in, the door's open!
- Oh, come on, you don't really believe that, do you?
- The project finally came on budget after the review.
- He came on a bit too strong during the negotiation.
- As the century came on, technological advances accelerated.
- Her performance came on in leaps and bounds after the new training.
- The politician was criticized for coming on to a reporter during the interview.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a coach shouting 'COME ON!' to runners ON the track to start or go faster.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOVEMENT (come on = move forward in action/spirit). KNOWING IS SEEING ('Oh, come on!' = I refuse to 'see' or accept that).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "иди на" (go onto).
- Confusing "come on" (encouragement) with "go on" (continue).
- Overusing "Давай!" as a direct equivalent; "Come on" is more versatile in tone.
- Misinterpreting "He came on to me" as "He approached me" rather than "He flirted with me."
Common Mistakes
- Writing as one word: 'comeon'.
- Using in formal contexts.
- Incorrect tone leading to misunderstanding (sarcastic vs. encouraging).
- Using 'come on' to mean 'continue' (which is 'go on').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'come on' mean 'to flirt with'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost exclusively informal and conversational. Avoid it in formal writing or speeches.
'Come on' is typically an encouragement to start or hurry an action. 'Go on' encourages someone to continue something they are already doing or telling.
Yes, frequently. As a cheer ('Come on, team!') or gentle encouragement ('Come on, you can do it!'), it is very positive. Tone is key.
It means behaving in an overly aggressive, intense, or forward manner, often in social, romantic, or business contexts.
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