- come to
- come toto become conscious; to wake up. •
We threw a little cold water in his face, and he came to immediately.
* * *{v.} (stress on "to") 1. To wake up after losing consciousness; get the use of your senses back again after fainting or being knocked out. * /She fainted in the store and found herself in the first aid room when she came to./ * /The boxer who was knocked out did not come to for five minutes./ * /The doctor gave her a pill and after she took it she didn't come to for two days./ Compare: BRING TO. 2. (stress on "come") To get enough familiarity or understanding to; learn to; grow to. - Used with an infinitive. * /John was selfish at first, but he came to realize that other people counted, too./ * /During her years at the school, Mary came to know that road well./ 3. To result in or change to; reach the point of; arrive at. * /Mr. Smith lived to see his invention come to success./ * /Grandfather doesn't like the way young people act today; he says, "I don't know what the world is coming to."/ 4. To have something to do with; be in the field of; be about. - Usually used in the phrase "when it comes to". * /Joe is not good in sports, but when it comes to arithmetic he's the best in the class./ * /The school has very good teachers, but when it comes to buildings, the school is poor./
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.