stumbling across
Discovering by chance
Stumbling across something is finding it by chance rather than by searching: I stumbled across an old photo while cleaning out the attic.
The image is of literally tripping over something in your path—you weren't looking for it, but there it is.
Also *stumbling upon* or *stumbling on*.
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- tripping overCatching foot unexpectedly
- hidden gemUnderappreciated find
- lost treasureValuables gone missing
- buried secretConcealed truth kept hidden
rabbit hole · finding out · tumble · chance encounter · happy accident · serendipity · happenstance · lucky break · pure luck · stone · wonderment · intrigue · curiosity · fascination · root · slip · astonishment · fortuitous
stumbling acrosssearching for
Trying to find
seeking out · looking for · tracking down · going after · pursuing
stumbling acrossresearching
Methodical investigation of a topic
investigating · digging up · sleuthing · combing through · leaving no stone unturned
stumble, stumbling, stumbled, stumbles, stumbler, across, cross, crossing, crossed