happen across
Find by chance
To happen across something is to find or encounter it by chance rather than by searching: I happened across an old photograph while cleaning the attic.
The phrase suggests stumbling onto something unexpectedly, often with a note of pleasant surprise.
Synonymous with happen upon, come across, and stumble upon.
- discoverFind something unknown
- stumble uponFind unexpectedly
- stumble onDiscover by chance
- run intoMeet unexpectedly or collide
- encounterUnexpected meeting or confrontation
cross paths · coincidence · serendipity · fortuity · unearth · meet · fall in with · notice · luck · pure luck · blind luck · find · accident · happy accident · fluke · chance upon · light upon · synchronicity
happen, across, happens, happened, happening, happenings, happenstance