how come?

Idioms  

1. How is it that, as in How come you're not attending the conference? Sometimes how come follows a statement and asks the question “why” or “in what way,” as in You're not going? How come? The related phrase how so? functions the same way, as in You say she's changed her mind—how so? How come is short for how did it come about that and dates from the mid-1800s; how so, short for how is it so or how is it that, dates from about 1300.

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Example Sentences

Mr. Gandhi referred to two fugitives who also have the name Modi and asked “how come the thieves share the same last name?”

From New York Times

For example, she said, “single-sex schools are almost completely exempt from this law. The only protected class that applies to single-sex schools is disability. So, if the state really cares as much about discrimination as it seems to say it does, then how come there’s this massive exemption for single-sex schools while religious schools are being targeted?”

From Washington Times

“How come all the thieves have Modi as the common name?”

From New York Times

“I hear from Russians the following: ‘Well, if we are one people, as Putin says, how come we’re making war on some of our own people and now launching attacks on the cities?’

From Washington Post

“I used to say to my guys on the Afghan desk, ‘If we’re winning, how come it don’t look like we’re winning?’

From New York Times