bob up

Idioms and Phrases

Appear suddenly or unexpectedly. For example, I didn't know anyone in the group until Harry bobbed up . This term uses the verb bob in the sense of “to bounce,” a usage dating from Chaucer's day. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

A standout moment on Tamara's nine-week expedition in Antarctica's Weddell Sea was when two seals bobbed up to the surface to take a deeper breath after falling asleep alongside the ship.

From BBC

His boat capsized, then righted itself and began turning over and over; each time his exasperated head bobbed up, he gasped for his possibly final breath.

From Literature

Miraculously, he bobbed up between the web of metal legs and braces to break back through into the open air.

From BBC

A visitor will see countless merry little ducktails bobbing up and down in the clearish water, happy to hang out at one of Seattle’s best party houses on any given sunny afternoon.

From Seattle Times

He dived under the boat and bobbed up on the other side.

From Literature

Related Words

• arrive
• come
• come out
• crop up
• develop
• emerge
• materialize
• occur
• pop up
• present
• show
• show up
• surface
• turn out
• turn up