come back late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come back late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone returning after a specified time or after a delay. Example: "Please don't worry if I don't answer your calls; I might come back late from the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Come back late for live Texas music.

The New York Times - Travel

They come back late from the casino.

The New Yorker

Griffin and her teammates did just that, responding when the Aggies threatened to come back late.

The New York Times - Sports

I'd get into trouble because I'd come back late; as a result, I quit.

The Guardian

Sometimes when you come back late you want to work hard and in a game you are not as sharp.

The Guardian - Sport

They've given up leads, come back late against DC, been within a Mike Magee spot-kick of a win, and not looked bad at times.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He came back late".

The Guardian

Coming back late like this gives the team confidence".

The New York Times

"They left early for work and came back late in the afternoon.

The New York Times

Malek go out early in morning and coming back late late.

The Guardian - Books

I came back late in the day, when other competitors had left, and skied twice.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "come back late" in your writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the place of return. For example, specify "come back late to the office" or "come back late to the hotel".

Common error

Avoid using "come back late" when you simply mean someone is delayed. "Come back late" implies a prior departure and subsequent return, not just a general lateness.

Linguistic Context

Come back late functions as a phrasal verb indicating the act of returning to a place after a specific or expected time. This phrase implies a prior departure and subsequent return, not just general lateness. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come back late" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe returning to a place after an expected or scheduled time. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. The phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts from news media to personal communications. However, it's crucial to use it accurately, implying a return and not simply a delay. Related phrases like ""return at a late hour"" or ""arrive back late"" can provide alternative ways to express the same idea with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrive back late

Simple substitution with "arrive" for "come".

be back late

Focuses on the state of being back, rather than the action of returning.

get back at a late hour

Uses "get back" for a more casual tone while specifying the timing.

return late at night

More specific, indicating the return is during the night.

return at a late hour

Formal alternative emphasizing the time of return.

not get back until late

Expresses the lateness as a condition of the return.

come home late

Specifically refers to returning home.

show up late

Implies an arrival, not necessarily a return, at a later time.

roll in late

Informal, suggesting a casual or perhaps unwanted late arrival.

clock in late

Specifically refers to arriving late at work.

FAQs

What does "come back late" mean?

The phrase "come back late" means to return to a place after a specified or expected time. It implies that someone had previously left and is now returning after a delay.

What can I say instead of "come back late"?

You can use alternatives like "return at a late hour", "arrive back late", or "get back at a late hour" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "came back lately"?

While grammatically understandable, "came back lately" isn't as common as "came back late". "Lately" typically refers to something that has happened several times recently, whereas "late" refers to a specific instance of returning after the expected time.

How do I use "come back late" in a sentence?

You can use "come back late" in a sentence like this: "I told my children not to come back late from the park" or "He usually comes back late from work on Fridays".