come-on

American  

[kuhm-on, -awn] / ˈkʌmˌɒn, -ˌɔn /

noun

Slang.

1. inducement; lure.

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come on British  

verb

1. (of power, a water supply, etc) to become available; start running or functioning

2. to make or show progress; develop

   my plants are coming on nicely

3. to advance, esp in battle

4. to begin

   she felt a cold coming on

   a new bowler has come on

5. theatre to make an entrance on stage

6. to be considered, esp in a court of law

7. (preposition) See come upon

8. 1. hurry up!

   2. cheer up! pull yourself together!

   3. make an effort!

   4. don't exaggerate! stick to the facts!

9. to attempt to give a specified impression

   he came on like a hard man

10. to make a forceful or exaggerated impression

11. informal to make sexual advances to

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noun

1. informal anything that serves as a lure or enticement

come on Idioms  

1. Move forward, progress, develop. For example, We stopped as soon as darkness began to come on . [Early 1600s]

2. Hurry up, as in Come on now, it's getting late . This imperative to urge someone forward has been so used since about 1450.

3. Also, come upon . Meet or find unexpectedly, as in We came on him while walking down the street , or I came upon an old friend in the bookstore today . [Second half of 1700s]

4. Make a stage entrance, as in After the next cue she comes on from the right . [Early 1800s]

5. Please oblige me, as in Come on, that's no excuse for leaving , or Come on, you'll really like this restaurant . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

6. Convey a specific personal image, as in He comes on like a go-getter but he's really rather timid . [ Slang ; c. 1940]

7. Also, come on strong . Behave or speak in an aggressive way, as in Take it easy; you're coming on awfully strong . [c. 1940]

8. Also, come on to . Make sexual advances, as in She reported her boss for coming on to her . This usage probably was derived from the earlier use of the noun come-on for a sexual advance. [ Slang ; 1950s]

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Etymology

Origin of come-on

1895–1900, noun use of verb phrase come on

Example Sentences

A plea, a flex, a come-on — this delirious pop masterpiece contains multitudes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

"Many people, in good faith, misconstrue what I'm saying, and they think I'm trying to do a sort of come-on to the camera. And I really am not," she told food podcast Sporked.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

“An American in Paris”: “It’s jet-propelled New Year’s Eve and everyone in Paris will be there,” says Gene Kelly to Nina Foch — well, who could resist a come-on like that?

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2022

This advertising come-on makes you think you are getting a good deal, but you pay for the product and receive the rebate only after the purchase is complete.

From Washington Post • Sep. 27, 2022

From the lips of the Mud Turtle, who had silently joined the group, came a come-on verdict.

From Lady Luck by Wiley, Hugh

Related Words

• begin
• come across
• take place