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Meaning trap

come through

water seeps through

When water or damp passes or seeps through a wall, ceiling or roof into a room.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

water seeps through

When water or damp passes or seeps through a wall, ceiling or roof into a room.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • There's a leak upstairs and water's coming through the kitchen ceiling.reporting damage at home
  • A: Why is the wall wet?
    B: Damp's been coming through since the storm.
    flatmates inspecting a wall

Fix the pattern

Pattern: [water/damp] is coming through (the ceiling/wall)

WrongWater is coming inside from the ceiling.

RightWater is coming through the ceiling.

Use 'come through' for water passing through a surface, not 'come inside from'.

Pattern[water/damp] is coming through (the ceiling/wall)

Don't confuse it

'Come through' = passes through a surface; 'leak' is the wider problem causing it.

Try it in Daily Speak →