here they come

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "here they come" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people or things is approaching or arriving. Example: "As the parade started, the crowd cheered, and I shouted, 'Here they come!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

LIZADONNELLY: Here they come!

The New Yorker

Spotify, here they come.

The Economist

Here they come.

The New Yorker

France, here they come.

Independent

And here they come.

Cornell University

"Oh, God, here they come".

The New York Times

Here they come across intact.

The New York Times - Arts

Here they come.' Naw.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Here they came to life.

The New York Times

8.36am GMT And here they came.

The Guardian - Sport

Here they came, scrambling hyena-like across a vast plain.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "here they come" to create a sense of anticipation or excitement when announcing the arrival of someone or something. It's particularly effective in informal contexts or when narrating events.

Common error

Avoid using "here they come" in highly formal or technical writing. Its informal tone might not be appropriate for all situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "here they come" functions as an interjection or exclamation, often used to announce the arrival of a group. It is used to grab attention and create a sense of anticipation, such as when a sports team enters the field, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

12%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "here they come" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to announce an arrival. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves as an interjection, creating anticipation. While versatile, it leans towards informal contexts, though it frequently appears in News & Media. For more formal situations, alternatives like "they are arriving" may be more appropriate. Common usage involves signaling an imminent arrival, as seen in examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they are arriving

Focuses on the action of arriving, removing the directional aspect.

they are approaching

Highlights the movement towards a location, rather than the immediate arrival.

they're on their way

Indicates that the subject is in transit and will arrive soon.

look who's here

More emphatic and can imply surprise or recognition.

the cavalry has arrived

Figurative language suggesting rescue or reinforcement.

the guests are arriving

More formal and specific about who is coming.

they are coming into view

Emphasizes the visual aspect of the arrival.

the team is entering

Specific to a group entering a space.

the performers are on stage

Highlights a performance context.

prepare yourselves

Implies an imminent arrival that requires preparation.

FAQs

How can I use "here they come" in a sentence?

You can use "here they come" to announce the arrival of people or things, often creating a sense of anticipation. For example, "The music started, and the announcer shouted, 'Here they come!'"

What's a more formal alternative to "here they come"?

For a more formal setting, consider using phrases like "they are arriving" or "the delegation is approaching". These options are less colloquial and more suitable for professional contexts.

What does "here they come" imply?

"Here they come" usually implies an imminent arrival, often with a sense of excitement or anticipation. The tone can vary depending on the context, but it generally suggests that the arrival is noteworthy.

Which is correct, "here they come" or "here they comes"?

"Here they come" is the correct form. The subject is plural ("they"), so the verb should be "come", not "comes".