as they come: Idiom Meaning and Origin

What does ‘as they come’ mean?

The idiom "as they come" means accepting or judging things or people without any qualifications or conditions. It implies taking things or people as they are, without trying to change or improve them.

Idiom Explorer

Decoding Variations

Idiom: as they come

The idiom "as they come" is a phrase commonly used in informal speech in the English language. It is derived from the verb "come," which means to move toward, approach, or arrive at a particular place or position. The phrase "as they come" is an adverbial phrase that modifies the verb "come" and indicates that something is accepted or dealt with in the exact state or condition in which it presents itself. This idiom suggests accepting something or someone without making any changes or demanding any special conditions. It can be used in various contexts to describe people, situations, or things.

The idiom "come what may" is related to the idiom "as they come". "Come what may" is an idiomatic phrase that means regardless of what happens or what difficulties may arise. It conveys a sense of determination and willingness to face whatever challenges or obstacles come along. Similar to "as they come", "come what may" signifies a state of acceptance and readiness to deal with things as they unfold, without trying to control or alter the circumstances.

The idiom "as it happens" also relates to "as they come". "As it happens" is an expression used to indicate that something occurred coincidentally or unexpectedly. It implies that the event or situation being described was not planned or anticipated. In the context of "as they come", "as it happens" reinforces the idea of accepting things or people without any preconceived notions or expectations. It suggests a willingness to embrace the spontaneous and unscripted nature of life without trying to impose any predetermined conditions.

The idiom "as they come" is a widely used phrase in informal speech. It suggests accepting something or someone in their natural state or condition without any changes or special conditions. The related idioms "come what may" and "as it happens" add further nuances to this concept of acceptance, emphasizing the readiness to face challenges and embracing the unexpected. These idioms reflect a conversational and informal style of communication, characteristic of the English language.

Example usage

Examples of how the idiom "as they come" can be used:

  1. She is an amazing chef, one of the best as they come.
  2. He may not be the most skilled musician, but he's as enthusiastic as they come.
  3. As far as managers go, she's as fair as they come.

More "Adverb" idioms