come across or bump into?

[san2612]

1. We _________ Catherine yesterday when we were shopping
A came across B ran to C bumped into D fell into

I chose A but the answer is C. Is there any difference between the two phrasal verbs?

 

[emsr2d2]

1. We _________ Catherine yesterday when we were shopping
A came across B ran to C bumped into D fell into

I chose A but the answer is C. Is there any difference between the two phrasal verbs?

Yes. Simply, we don't generally say that we "come across" another person. If you're out and you meet someone unexpectedly, the usual phrasal verb is "to bump into".

 

[Allen165]

Yes. Simply, we don't generally say that we "come across" another person. If you're out and you meet someone unexpectedly, the usual phrasal verb is "to bump into".

NOT A TEACHER.

Or "run into."

 

[billmcd]

Yes. Simply, we don't generally say that we "come across" another person. If you're out and you meet someone unexpectedly, the usual phrasal verb is "to bump into".

I agree but I don't understand why, if this was a quiz, both 'came across' and 'bump into' would be included in the same question since, as you imply, 'come across' is occasionally used---unless instructions for the quiz stated that the best or most frequently used expression should be selected.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't think I would ever use "to come across" to mean meeting someone unexpectedly in the street.

I might use it (rather disturbingly and I hope I never have to) for "I came across a dead body in a field" but to me it means to accidentally find something, not to meet someone.

 

[Mannysteps]

Not a teacher

Sadly, dictionaries also have it wrong:

Macmillan Dictionary:

Come across someone/something to meet someone, or to find something by chance

"I came across a word I’d never seen before."

"Have you ever come across such a horrible person in all your life?"

come across - definition of come across by Macmillan Dictionary

The Free Dictionary:


come across
1. To meet or find by chance: came across my old college roommate in town today.

come across - definition of come across by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.




Just goes to show...


M.

 

[bhaisahab]

I don't think I would ever use "to come across" to mean meeting someone unexpectedly in the street.

I might use it (rather disturbingly and I hope I never have to) for "I came across a dead body in a field" but to me it means to accidentally find something, not to meet someone.

I agree. "I came across an old friend in town" sounds wrong to me.