Learn English – Usage question: “to come at someone” vs “to approach someone”

word-usage

Can I paraphase:

Jeep was approaching me at high speed.

With:

Jeep was coming at me at high speed.

Saw usage: to come to somebody, but never to come at somebody (in the meaning to approach somebody).

Best Answer

If something (in this case a jeep) is coming at you, it implies that it is going to hit you.

If it is merely approaching you, it is coming closer, but it doesn't imply anything else. You may be expecting it to stop for you, for instance.

Coming at someone means approaching to hit, to attack:

The car came at him at a ridiculous speed. he'd better run away!
She came at me with a knife. she is attacking me!

Coming to someone is a lot more peaceful:

The car came to him at a ridiculous speed. but then it stopped and he got it
She came to me with a knife. which I asked her to bring me

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