come across — seem or give an impression
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To appear or be understood in a particular way by others.
Say it like a native
Textbook He conveys the impression of being somewhat aloof.
Native He comes across as a bit cold.
'Come across as' is how people describe the impression someone gives; the formal version is bookish.
Pattern: come across (as) + adjective/noun
In use
- She comes across as very confident in interviews.communication
- I try to come across as friendly and open when meeting new people, especially in professional situations.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He comes across cold.
✓ He comes across as cold.
For impressions, you need 'as' + adjective/noun: 'come across as friendly'.
Common collocations
come across as + impression— as confident, as rude, as genuine, as nervous
Don't confuse it
Not about finding things, but about how someone seems to others.
Related
- come across (find by chance) — Another meaning of 'come across' is 'find by chance'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.