Heading
1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 239. In consequence of which appointment the party came off, which we are about to describe.
1870. Wilkie Collins, Man and Wife, in Cassell's Mag., p. 292, col. 1. 'The betting's at five to four, my dear. And the race comes off in a month from this.'
1872. Civilian, 10 Aug. Unfortunately, the event, to use the language of the turf, did not come off, and considerable disappointment was manifested.
1883. Graphic, August 11, p. 138, col. 2. Batting is his forte, though he does not always come off.
Come off the Grass, or the
Tall Grass! phr. (American).—'None
of your airs!' 'Don't
put it on so!' 'Don't tell any
more lies!.' The French say,
As-tu fini tes manières or
magnes? ne fais donc pas ta
Sophie; and ne fais donc pas ton
fendart.
Come out, verbal phr. (common).—1.
To make an appearance; to
display oneself; to express oneself
vigorously; to make an impression
(especially in sense 2).
Sometimes in an intensified form
to come out strong. cf.,
Come it strong.
[The first quot. is doubtful, but it looks like an anticipation.]
1637. Sl. Rutherford, Letters, No. 167, vol. I., p. 390 (ed. 1862, 2 vols.). Christ . . . who hath given you eyes to discern the devil coming out in his whites.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, II., 14. The more he [Clive] worked, the more he was discontented with his performance, somehow; but J. J. was coming out very strong; J. J. was going to be a stunner.
1865. G. F. Berkeley, Life, etc. II., 135. Our inclination to quiz him [Lord Wm. Lennox] on the subject increased when in later years he came out strong in magazines and reviews, as a sporting writer.
1865. Cornhill Magazine, IV., 218. 'A county ball.' The native comes out strong in waistcoats—his array in that respect being gorgeous.
1870. Good Words, April. 'The Hand Nailer.' In the nailing communities, as elsewhere, woman manages somehow to come out extensively on Sundays.
18(?). Aytoun, The Dreepdaily Burghs, p. 2. Let me confess it. I had of late come out rather too strong. When a man has made money easily, he is somewhat prone to launch into expense.
2. (common).—To turn out; to result; e.g., How did it come out? Cf., Come off.
3. (colloquial).—To make a first appearance in society.
To come out of the little end of the horn, phr. (American).—To fare badly; in allusion to the thin end of the Cornucopia.
Come Over, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To
influence; to overreach;
to cheat. (If the quots. are
compared chronologically it will
be seen that there has been a
gradual deterioration in the
meaning of this colloquialism.)
Cf., come round; get over.
1609. Dekker, Gul's Horne-Booke, ch. ii. Care not for those coorse painted cloath rimes, made by ye University of Salerne, that come ouer you, with . . . sweete candied councell.
1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, Act ii., Sc. 1. I do not see what fault she can find with me; and if I had some good word to come over her—but I must help it out, an need be, with swearing.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. To come over any one: to cheat or overreach him.
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I lately came over him for a good round sum.
c. 1860. Broadside Ballad, I'm a young man from the country, But you don't get over me.
