how come: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘how come’ mean?
The idiom how come is used to ask about the reason or cause of something in a more informal and familiar way. It is commonly used in spoken English.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "how's the weather" is used figuratively to ask about someone's current mood or emotional state.
It implies a casual inquiry into how someone is feeling or what their general disposition is like at the moment.
The idiom "how so" is used to inquire about or challenge a statement by asking for further explanation or evidence of its validity.
The idiom "how goes it" is a casual way to ask about someone's well-being or inquire about the progress of a specific situation.
The idiom "how are you" is a common greeting asking about one's well-being or state. It is often used as a polite social interaction and does not typically require an in-depth response.
The idiom "guess what" is used to introduce or emphasize surprising or unexpected information or news.
"Go figure" is an idiomatic expression used to imply that something is surprising or difficult to understand.
The idiom "get outta here" is used to express disbelief or surprise at something someone has said. It is often used in an informal or casual setting to show skepticism or astonishment. The phrase can also be used playfully or sarcastically.
The idiom "get out of here" is commonly used as a way to express disbelief or skepticism towards something. It is often used to show surprise or astonishment, and can be used in a variety of situations to convey a sense of disbelief or incredulity.
The idiom "for XYZ reasons" is used when giving an explanation or justification for something. It indicates that there are specific motives or justifications but does not list them explicitly. It is commonly used to provide a vague reasoning behind an action or decision.
The idiom "for reasons" is commonly used to indicate that there are specific factors or justifications behind someone's actions or decisions.
Decoding "How Come"
The idiom "how come" is a commonly used phrase in American English that is primarily used to express surprise or curiosity regarding a particular situation or outcome. It is often used in questions and is closely related to the phrase "why is it that."
While its origin is not well-documented, "how come" is believed to have emerged in the early 19th century in the United States. It is commonly associated with American English and is less commonly used in other varieties of English.
"How come" is used in everyday speech and informal writing, but it is not considered appropriate in formal or academic contexts. It is commonly used in casual conversations among friends, family, and peers.
The idioms "how so", "how are you", "for reasons", and "how goes it" are all related to the phrase "how come" in different ways.
"How so" is an idiomatic expression used to seek clarification or further explanation. It is often used when someone wants to understand the reasoning or justification behind a statement or claim. For example, one might ask, "You said the party was canceled. How so?" to inquire about the reasons behind the cancellation.
"How are you" is a common greeting in English, and while it may not seem directly related to "how come," it shares a similar structure and usage. Both phrases involve the use of the word "how" to inquire about a particular state or situation. While "how come" is used to express surprise or curiosity, "how are you" is used to inquire about someone's well-being or current state. Despite their differences in meaning, the shared structure makes them related idiomatic expressions.
"For reasons" is a phrase used to introduce an explanation or justification for a particular action or decision. It is often used to provide a concise summary of the factors that led to a certain outcome. While "how come" is used to inquire about the reasons behind a situation, "for reasons" is used to present those reasons in a straightforward manner.
"How goes it" is an informal greeting used to ask about someone's general well-being or how things are currently progressing. While it may not share the exact meaning of "how come," it is related in the sense that both phrases involve the use of "how" to inquire about a particular state or situation. "How goes it" can be seen as a more light-hearted and informal version of "how are you."
Overall, the idiomatic expression "how come" is a commonly used phrase in American English to express surprise or curiosity. Its origin dates back to the early 19th century, and it is primarily used in informal conversations. While it may not adhere to strict grammatical rules, its usage is widely accepted in informal contexts. The related idioms "how so", "how are you", "for reasons", and "how goes it" provide variations of the same structure and usage, further enriching the language and allowing for more expressive communication.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *how come* can be used in a sentence:
*How come* you are always late to work?
I don't understand *how come* she didn't receive the invitation.
*How come* we didn't win the game, even though we played well?
More "Interrogative" idioms
