things come up

USAGE SUMMARY

"things come up" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to any sort of unexpected or unforeseen event or issue (positive or negative) that unexpectedly requires attention or has to be dealt with. For example, "I'm sorry, I can't make it to the meeting - something came up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But things come up.

The New York Times - Arts

Things come up.

The New York Times - Sports

"Things come up from time to time.

The New York Times

Will these things come up?

The Guardian

I know last-minute things come up.

The New York Times - Sports

New members get a vote when things come up.

The New York Times

New things come up every day in baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

"Different things come up; populations aren't what I thought".

The New York Times

"As things come up, we utilize day-to-day working capital," he said.

The New York Times

These five things come up". These five traits he calls the axioms of consciousness.

The Guardian

"Our desire is to have it in place so we can repeal as things come up," Ms. Moran said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When explaining why someone couldn't meet a deadline or attend a meeting, using "things came up" can be a polite and concise way to convey that unexpected issues arose without going into unnecessary detail.

Common error

While "things come up" is convenient, avoid overusing it. Provide more specific details when possible to maintain transparency and build trust. Use more descriptive alternatives to maintain clarity, like "unforeseen events occur".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things come up" functions as an idiomatic expression used to acknowledge that unexpected events or issues arise, disrupting plans or schedules. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a common way to explain unforeseen circumstances without providing specific details. It softens the message and creates an understanding that change of plans is because of external factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "things come up" is a common and acceptable phrase used to indicate that unexpected events or issues have arisen. As Ludwig AI states, it's a general way to excuse changes in plans or missed commitments without getting into specifics. While widely used in news, media, and business contexts, it's important to balance its convenience with the need for transparency by providing more details when appropriate. To enhance clarity and avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "unexpected issues arise" or ""unforeseen events occur"". Always tailor your language to the specific context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unforeseen events occur

Focuses on the unexpected and unplanned nature of events.

unexpected issues arise

Highlights the sudden appearance of problems or challenges.

matters emerge unexpectedly

Emphasizes the surprise element of new matters developing.

contingencies arise

Implies the occurrence of possible but uncertain future events.

problems crop up

Suggests minor issues that surface without warning.

situations develop

Indicates the unfolding of events, often requiring attention.

difficulties surface

Highlights challenges that become apparent.

complications ensue

Suggests that events lead to more complex situations.

interruptions happen

Focuses on unexpected events that disturb planned activities.

life intervenes

Highlights how external circumstances impact personal plans

FAQs

How can I use "things come up" in a sentence?

You can use "things come up" to explain unexpected issues or events. For example, "I apologize for the late response, "things come up" and I was unable to reply sooner."

What can I say instead of "things come up"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected issues arise", ""unforeseen events occur"", or "matters emerge unexpectedly" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "things come up"?

It's suitable when you want to acknowledge unexpected issues without needing to specify details. However, if possible, providing more information is often better. Use this phrase when you want to avoid to specify details, but in order to be more clear provide detailed and concrete description.

Is "something came up" or "things come up" more appropriate?

"Something came up" is generally used for a singular, unspecified issue, while ""things come up"" implies multiple issues or a general state of unexpected events. Therefore, "something" refers to single problem while "things" refers to a variety of them.