How come

Meaning

The idiom "how come" is used to express surprise or disbelief about a situation, person, or thing. It can also be used to ask for an explanation or reason why something happened. The literal meaning of the phrase is "for what purpose" or "why."

Usage

• I was so surprised when my boss asked me to lead the meeting. How come?
• She's not that talented, but she always gets the best grades. How come?
• Why did he invite her to the party when they don't even know each other?
• I can't believe we lost the game. How come?
• What's the reason behind his sudden departure from the company? The usage of "how come" can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a serious or humorous tone, depending on the situation. In a serious tone, it can be used to express genuine surprise or disbelief, while in a humorous tone, it can be used for dramatic effect or to add humor to the conversation.

Roots and History

The idiom "how come" is believed to have originated in the United States in the 19th century. It was first used in the book "Americanisms" by John Francis Knott in 1865. The phrase has since become a common expression in American English and is now used worldwide.

Synonyms in English

• Why?
• What's the reason behind that?
• How did that happen?
• Where did that come from?
• Can you explain why that happened?

Synonyms in other languages

• Why? (English, French, German)
• What's the reason behind that? (English, French, German)
• How did that happen? (English, French, German)
• Where did that come from? (English, French, German)
• Can you explain why that happened? (English, French, German)
• ¿Por qué? (Spanish)
• ¿Qué pasó para que eso sucediera? (Spanish)
• ¿De dónde vino eso? (Spanish)
• ¿Por qué pasó eso? (Portuguese)

10. O por que? (Portuguese)

Similar Idioms

• high five

• by all means

• take over