come up

Meaning

In a business context, 'come up' usually means that an unexpected issue, task, or problem has suddenly arisen and requires attention. It can also mean that a specific topic or question was mentioned or discussed during a meeting. This phrasal verb is highly common and essential for daily workplace communication.

Examples

• I am sorry, but I have to reschedule our meeting because something urgent has come up.

  I am sorry, but I have to reschedule our meeting because something urgent has come up.

• Did the topic of budget cuts come up during the board meeting yesterday?

  Did the topic of budget cuts come up during the board meeting yesterday?

• A few technical issues came up during the software demonstration, but we fixed them quickly.

  A few technical issues came up during the software demonstration, but we fixed them quickly.

• If any questions come up during the presentation, please feel free to ask.

  If any questions come up during the presentation, please feel free to ask.

• We need to prepare a backup plan in case any unexpected delays come up next week.

  We need to prepare a backup plan in case any unexpected delays come up next week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to come up a new marketing strategy.

  ✓ We need to come up with a new marketing strategy.

  Do not confuse 'come up' with 'come up with'. 'Come up' means to occur or be mentioned. If you want to say you are generating, creating, or inventing an idea or plan, you must use the three-word phrasal verb 'come up with'.

• ✗ An urgent problem was come up this morning.

  ✓ An urgent problem came up this morning.

  The phrasal verb 'come up' is intransitive when it means to arise or happen. This means it cannot be used in the passive voice. The problem simply 'came up' on its own.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I might be a few minutes late to the call if any last-minute problems ___ at the office.

  💡 Think of a phrasal verb meaning 'to arise unexpectedly'.

  Show answer

  come up

• Your name didn't ___ during the performance reviews, so don't worry.

  💡 Think of a phrasal verb meaning 'to be mentioned'.

  Show answer

  come up

• Don't worry about the minor details now; we can address those issues as they ___.

  💡 This means 'as they happen or appear'.

  Show answer

  come up