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Successor Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Come off/over
Hello,
I'd like to know if you regard the phrasal verbs 'come off' and 'come over' as synonymous in the sentence below or whether there is any difference in meaning. Thank you.
She comes over as an efficient businesswoman.
I'd like to know if you regard the phrasal verbs 'come off' and 'come over' as synonymous in the sentence below or whether there is any difference in meaning. Thank you.
She comes over as an efficient businesswoman.
Top answer
They're probably synonymous, but I have a slightly negative feeling about "come off", as if it isn't really true, or as if it is used with an adjective that carries a negative meaning. ] Let's see what other natives have to say about it.
- They're probably synonymous, but I have a slightly negative feeling about "come off", as if it isn't really true, or as if it is used with an adjective that carries a negative meaning.
- ] Let's see what other natives have to say about it.
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7 Answers
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They're probably synonymous, but I have a slightly negative feeling about "come off", as if it isn't really true, or as if it is used with an adjective that carries a negative meaning.
[The man selling magazines came off as a legitimate salesman, but he was a scam.]
[The newly-crowned princess came over as a breath of fresh air.]
Let's see what other natives have to s
[The man selling magazines came off as a legitimate salesman, but he was a scam.]
[The newly-crowned princess came over as a breath of fresh air.]
Let's see what other natives have to s
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Hello,
it seems to me that you have a point there. I found an example in my dictionary where the verb 'come off' has a slightly negative connotation:
He comes off as quiet, but he's got a great personality.
The phrasal verbs 'come over as' and 'come across as' are synonymous. But I'm doubtful about whether 'come off' would have the same mean
it seems to me that you have a point there. I found an example in my dictionary where the verb 'come off' has a slightly negative connotation:
He comes off as quiet, but he's got a great personality.
The phrasal verbs 'come over as' and 'come across as' are synonymous. But I'm doubtful about whether 'come off' would have the same mean
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I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "come over" in this context. "Come across" would be more common.
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This is a dictionary definition (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English) for 'COME OVER' :
4 if someone comes over in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities [= come across]:
--- He didn't come over very well (=seem to have good qualities) in the interview.
come over as
--- S
4 if someone comes over in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities [= come across]:
--- He didn't come over very well (=seem to have good qualities) in the interview.
come over as
--- S
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Well, as I said, I don't think I have ever heard it used that way. Maybe it's British?
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