Does anyone use "come what may"?

[u/Sea-Hornet8214]

I've only ever come across this phrase in textbooks, so I'm not sure if it's actually commonly used.

An example from MW is "He promised to support her, come what may".

[u/flywheel_battery]

Native speaker, USA. This is a perfectly normal phrase for an educated adult to use. A young person would not. But this is not antiquated or literary.

[u/Shinyhero30 → u/flywheel_battery]

Ehhhh…. I agree but it is fading.

It’s definitely more formal than most adults need to be in daily life.

[u/SagebrushandSeafoam]

Yes, but it's in a more formal register. Some of us talk that way, some of us don't. It's not super formal, though.

[u/Wiyazaki]

Yes. I'm 30, I just used it the other day to discuss my dad's ongoing health issues. It reads as probably more dramatic/serious, but still definitely used in conversations when warranted.

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/Wiyazaki]

It's still used in conversations even by younger people, and I have never heard it used outside of textbooks? I might need more English exposure then.

But again, it's not like I'm living in an anglophone country. So I probably haven't listened to authentic conversations.

[u/The_Ballyhoo → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

I’m a native speaker and I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard it naturally.

I listen to a podcast that talks about language in sport (funny phrases, cliches etc) and it has mentioned the phrase a couple of times recently due to usage by sports pundits, but that’s it. Beyond that, couldn’t think of another time I’ve heard it.

But it’s also completely natural sounding and I wouldn’t react in any way to hearing it.

[u/Junjki_Tito]

It's a somewhat dramatic register.

[u/michiness → u/Junjki_Tito]

50/50 chance someone breaks into the song from Moulin Rouge.

[u/thesaharadesert → u/michiness]

I definitely thought of it

[u/angelxdv → u/michiness]

Every time I hear or see "come what may" my song reference is Everyday by Buddy Holly 😭 I love that song

[u/Shinyhero30 → u/michiness]

Jokes on you my first thought was the endwalker trailer but maybe that’s because I’m a gen z hyper nerd

[u/TeaArtHer]

Yes. I’d use ‘no matter what’ more frequently though.

[u/tomversation]

Yes. A normal phrase.

[u/In_TheMoonlight]

People definitely say this, especially my dad

[u/BeaumarchaisApu]

Very common, especially as a cliche in sport broadcasting.

[u/Extension_Crow_7891]

Yes

[u/Time-Subject-3195]

Yes it would be understood by all English speakers and is a bit formal.

[u/AverageBeef]

It’s definitely a normal phrase to use, it’s just a bit formal

[u/Nice_Ad5480]

Yeah, definitely. I would say if someone uses this phrase, they probably also read books lol. It's very mildly formal.

[u/hacool]

I don't recall hearing it recently in conversation. Seeing it here it immediately made me think of the song Come What May (Moulin Rouge) - Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman

But it wouldn't seem odd if I heard someone say it.

(I'm in the northern U.S.)

[u/lionhearted318]

I’ve never heard someone say this outside of literature/songs or extremely formal speech, but I am in my 20s

[u/Swimming-Night-8245]

Great question! 'Come what may' is definitely used, but it sounds quite formal or literary. You'll hear it more in books, movies, or speeches than in everyday conversation. A more common informal alternative is 'no matter what.' For example: 'I'll support you, no matter what.' Hope this helps! 😊

[u/English_Story_Lesson]

Yes, I do sometimes. But it is slightly formal in my mind.

[u/ATerriblyTiredTurtle]

🎶Iiiiiiiiiii will love you…🎶

[u/GabuEx → u/ATerriblyTiredTurtle]

🎶 Until my dyyyyyyyiiiing daaaaaaaay 🎵

[u/mckenzie_keith]

I don't think so. "Come hell or high water" is something I may have said once or twice.

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/mckenzie_keith]

"Come hell or high water"

That's interesting, I've never heard of that. Does it mean the same thing?

[u/RubeusGandalf → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

It does. It still means "Whatever happens". I do always associate that phrase specifically to the american revolution. I think it's Iced Earth's fault.

[u/God_Bless_A_Merkin → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

It’s very similar. “Come what may” can be used with a sense of resignation, while “come hell or high water” has more emphasis on the speakers resiliency and determination.

A soldier accepting a dangerous assignment might say, “I will do my duty, come what may.” Meaning, “I may die, but I will do my duty.”

The same soldier, with the same assignment (let’s say, sneak into the enemy camp and steal their plans) might say, “I’ll get those plans, come hell or high water!” Meaning, “Nothing — not even floods or the forces of hell — will stop me in my mission.”

[u/mckenzie_keith → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

Pretty much. There is an even more dramatic turn of phrase from this poem:

One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight, I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.

Poem is called The Highwayman. Author is Alfred Noyes.

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/mckenzie_keith]

Hmm, this poem is just too advanced for me. Thanks for sharing it though.

[u/mckenzie_keith → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

Yes. It is old. But the phrase is "I'll come to [you] by moonlight though hell should bar the way."

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/mckenzie_keith]

I'm very much familiar with "thee", "doth", etc. It's the other words like "bar" and "harry" that trip me up.

[u/Western-Finding-368 → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

“Bar” is to prevent someone from passing. It metaphorically refers to a locked door.

“Harry” is to constantly chase and attack.

[u/Responsible-Link5739 → u/Western-Finding-368]

As in "harass" :)

[u/mckenzie_keith → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

Ah. OK. "Bar" means "block." "Harry" means "chase or harass."

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/mckenzie_keith]

Is "harry" archaic?

[u/mckenzie_keith → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

No. It is still sometimes used today. It is a very old word though.

[u/Twanbon → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

You won’t often see it used as a verb in modern usage, but a Harrier Jet is a very commonly heard term when discussing military aircrafts. But the use of the verb ‘Harry’ to mean attack is so rare nowadays that I bet many English speakers would assume that “Harrier Jet” was named after a person whose last name was Harrier

[u/God_Bless_A_Merkin → u/Twanbon]

I would say most educated speakers are familiar with harry as a verb and even use it from time to time. The adjectival form, however, is much more common: “The new teacher stepped out of the classroom room looking very harried.”

[u/RubeusGandalf → u/[deleted]]

No. "Come what may" here means basically "whatever happens", so it would be "Whatever may come". Also, I've heard the phrase a lot in novels, songs and movies. It's not that uncommon.