Learn English – difference between get and come by

difference

  1. You don't get such wonderful opportunities too often.
  2. You don't come by such wonderful opportunities too often.

What's the difference ?

Best Answer

There is no difference in their meaning in the examples provided: wonderful opportunities are rare ... wonderful opportunities present themselves rarely...one does not happen upon wonderful opportunities often.

"Get" is by far the more common.

But the two locutions could have very different connotations in other circumstances.

How did you come by that fancy camera? versus Where did you get that fancy camera?

"How did you come by" could be understood to be an insinuation that the person with the camera had obtained it illicitly, whereas the question "get" is neutral; the questioner who uses "get" might well expect an answer such as "My uncle gave it to me as a graduation gift".

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