come up
Appear or occur unexpectedly
Literally: To move from a lower position to a higher one
In 15 Seconds
- Used when a situation or problem happens unexpectedly.
- Perfect for canceling plans politely without giving too many details.
- Also describes future events that are approaching soon.
Meaning
Think of this phrase as something popping up unexpectedly. It describes a situation, a topic, or an opportunity that suddenly appears or happens without much warning.
Key Examples
3 of 6Canceling a coffee date
I'm so sorry, but something urgent has come up at home.
I'm so sorry, but something urgent has appeared at home.
In a business meeting
The issue of budget cuts came up during the discussion.
The issue of budget cuts appeared during the discussion.
Texting a friend about a party
Is your graduation coming up next month?
Is your graduation happening soon next month?
Cultural Background
In US business culture, 'something came up' is a very common way to protect one's 'work-life balance' without revealing personal details. British speakers might use 'crop up' as a slightly more informal alternative to 'come up' in social situations. Australians often use 'come up' in the context of weather or surf conditions changing unexpectedly. In international English (ELF), 'come up' is preferred over 'arise' because it is easier for non-native speakers to recognize, though it can be confused with 'come up with'.
The 'Vague' Power
Use 'something came up' when you want to be polite but don't want to explain your personal business.
No Passive Voice
Never say 'It was come up.' Always say 'It came up.'
In 15 Seconds
- Used when a situation or problem happens unexpectedly.
- Perfect for canceling plans politely without giving too many details.
- Also describes future events that are approaching soon.
What It Means
Imagine a piece of toast jumping out of a toaster. That is the energy of come up. It is used when something happens unexpectedly. It could be a problem at work. It could be your name in a conversation. It usually means something has arrived on your 'radar'.
How To Use It
You use come up for events and topics. It is an intransitive phrasal verb here. That means you do not need an object after it. You can say, "Something came up." You do not need to say what it is immediately. It is perfect for being a little vague. Use it when you need to change plans quickly.
When To Use It
Use it in the office when a new task appears. Use it with friends if you are going to be late. It is great for talking about the weather or the sun. "The sun comes up at 6 AM." It also works for future events. "My birthday is coming up soon!"
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for physical objects you are looking for. If you find your keys, they did not come up. You found them. Also, do not use it for people entering a room. If a friend walks in, they showed up. Come up is for situations, not physical people walking through doors.
Cultural Background
English speakers love being polite but indirect. Come up is the ultimate polite excuse. If you want to cancel a date, saying "Something came up" is a classic move. It sounds less personal than "I found something better to do." It implies the universe forced you to stay home.
Common Variations
You might hear come up with. This is different! That means to invent an idea. Another one is coming up. This is used by TV presenters. "Coming up after the break!" It builds excitement for what is next. Stick to the basic come up for general events.
Usage Notes
The phrase is highly versatile and works in almost any social setting. Just remember that 'something came up' is the most common way to excuse yourself from a commitment.
The 'Vague' Power
Use 'something came up' when you want to be polite but don't want to explain your personal business.
No Passive Voice
Never say 'It was come up.' Always say 'It came up.'
Job Interviews
In interviews, say 'A challenge came up' instead of 'I had a problem' to sound more professional.
Examples
6I'm so sorry, but something urgent has come up at home.
I'm so sorry, but something urgent has appeared at home.
A polite way to cancel without being too specific.
The issue of budget cuts came up during the discussion.
The issue of budget cuts appeared during the discussion.
Used to mention a topic that was raised.
Is your graduation coming up next month?
Is your graduation happening soon next month?
Refers to a future event approaching.
I was going to exercise, but then a nap came up.
I was going to exercise, but then a nap happened.
Using the phrase for a funny, lazy excuse.
We stayed awake to watch the sun come up.
We stayed awake to watch the sun rise.
A literal use for the sun appearing.
A great position has come up in the marketing department.
A great position has become available in the marketing department.
Used for new opportunities appearing.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'come up'.
I'm sorry I'm late, a problem ______ at work just as I was leaving.
The sentence is in the past tense ('as I was leaving'), so we use 'came up'.
Which sentence uses 'come up' to mean 'mentioned in a conversation'?
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence refers to a person being mentioned during a discussion.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: Are you coming to the gym? B: I'd love to, but ______.
'Something came up' is the standard idiomatic way to excuse yourself.
Match the sentence to the situation.
Sentence: 'The issue of the broken printer came up again.'
The sentence describes a topic being discussed (the printer) in a group setting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI'm sorry I'm late, a problem ______ at work just as I was leaving.
The sentence is in the past tense ('as I was leaving'), so we use 'came up'.
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence refers to a person being mentioned during a discussion.
A: Are you coming to the gym? B: I'd love to, but ______.
'Something came up' is the standard idiomatic way to excuse yourself.
Sentence: 'The issue of the broken printer came up again.'
The sentence describes a topic being discussed (the printer) in a group setting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsYes, it's perfectly fine for professional emails, especially when explaining a change in plans.
'Arise' is more formal and often used in writing. 'Come up' is the standard for speaking.
Yes, if the meeting was scheduled suddenly and you didn't know about it before.
Related Phrases
come up with
similarTo produce or invent an idea.
crop up
synonymTo appear unexpectedly.
turn up
similarTo arrive or be found.
bring up
contrastTo intentionally mention a topic.
