View synonyms for come-on

come-on

[ kuhm-on, -awn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Slang.

come on

(of power, a water supply, etc) to become available; start running or functioning
to make or show progress; develop
my plants are coming on nicely
to advance, esp in battle
to begin
a new bowler has come on
she felt a cold coming on
theatre to make an entrance on stage
to be considered, esp in a court of law
preposition See come upon
come on!
1. hurry up!
2. cheer up! pull yourself together!
3. make an effort!
4. don't exaggerate! stick to the facts!
to attempt to give a specified impression
he came on like a hard man
come on strong
to make a forceful or exaggerated impression
come on to informal.
to make sexual advances to

Origin of come-on¹

1895–1900, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase come on

The smell of the unkosher come-on was not unknown to the less-than-petite Conrad honker.

The scenario of the unwanted sexual come-on is far from unusual.

Take my way of it,” says he, “and come on-by with the rest of us here to Rotterdam.

I'll tell ye—you put me wise to a whole lot more stuff, and I'll frame up another come-on.

Why, oh, why, do cheap skates sell gold bricks and good come-on men waste their talents on Broadway!

From the lips of the Mud Turtle, who had silently joined the group, came a come-on verdict.

With their body-tremors they are giving the "come-on" signal to the workers.

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