Video Overview

This video deals with the phrasal verb 'come across.' Watch the video and then read our analysis afterwards.

Video Analysis

The phrasal verb 'come across' has a number of different meanings in formal and informal contexts.

If you 'come across' something or someone it means to meet someone or find something accidentally without intention.

If you talk about how something 'comes across' to others it refers to how the message or what was said is received by others. You might ask when translating from another language if the meaning of something has come across,  or your tone of voice might come across as angry or aggressive.

If somebody 'comes across' with something it means they have provided something which was needed at the time.

Additional examples with 'come across' are: 

Two employees are in trouble for not submitting documentation of their spending.

I hope he comes across with the documents we need soon or we'll never make it through this interrogation.

You are giving advice to your colleague who is making their first presentation.

I really like your presentation but some of your statements come across as a bit vague. Could I suggest making them more specific?

 A family member discovers some old equipment while cleaning out the house.

I came across some old computers while I was cleaning out. Should we donate them to charity?