stumble across

Related to stumble across: stumble, On a par, in the first place, give rise to, Stumble upon

stumble across (someone)

To meet or encounter someone by chance. I stumbled across Jack and Janet at the mall yesterday. They said to say hello! If those park rangers hadn't stumbled across us in time, we would have been eaten by that bear!
See also: across, stumble

stumble across (something)

To find, discover, or encounter something casually or by chance. I stumbled across this fantastic little café the other day. Let me know if you stumble across my keys. I haven't been able to find them.
See also: across, stumble
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

stumble across someone or something

 and stumble (up)on someone or something; stumble into someone or something
to find someone or something, usually by accident. I stumbled across an interesting book yesterday when I was shopping. Guess who I stumbled into at the library yesterday? I got lucky and stumbled on the right answer.
See also: across, stumble
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

stumble across

Also, stumble on. Find by chance, discover or meet with unexpectedly. For example, When we were hiking up the mountain we stumbled across a few abandoned shepherd's huts , or At the flea market Alfred stumbled on a quite valuable old lithograph. This idiom uses stumble in the sense of "accidentally trip." [Mid-1500s]
See also: across, stumble
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

stumble across

v.
To come upon someone or something accidentally or unexpectedly: I had given up finding my keys when I stumbled across them lying under the dresser. On my way to work this morning, I stumbled across an old friend I hadn't seen in years.
See also: across, stumble
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • stumble across (someone)
  • stumble upon (someone)
  • stumble over
  • stumble over (someone or something)
  • drop in to say hello
  • stumble across (something)
  • have a brush with
  • have a brush with (something)
  • meet one's match, to
  • come upon (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
make If you do, make sure you keep hold of the DVD and that it doesn't get copied anywhere that someone else could stumble across it.
TEXT MESSAGE
My six-year-old reads the Mercury and this is not the sort of image I want him to stumble across.
Letter: Image shame
They are not only successful in their trading but also learn the location of the planets where other humans were dumped and stumble across some of the overlords' hidden treasure in a space junk pile, to boot.
McCaffrey, Anne. Freedom ransom
But when Lina, her little sister Poppy and her friend Doon (Harry Treadaway) start looking for answers as to why the city's power seems to be failing and the food supplies running out, they stumble across a long-lost box left by the original builders of the city, which may hold the answers they seek.
DVDS: GOING UNDERGROUND; DVD OF THE WEEK CITY OF EMBER (PG, pounds 17.99) ***
The Doctor and Rose stumble across Queen Victoria (Pauline Collins) who is stumbling into a trap laid by marauding kung-fu fighting monks - who have ditched God to worship a demonic werewolf.
Doc's Royal appointment; DOCTOR WHO SATURDAY, BBC1,7.15pm
Brave Kate and Gerry are right to cling to the hope that Madeleine is out there and an abductor will suddenly discover a conscience, or that a member of the public will stumble across their little girl.
VOICE OF THE DAILY Mirror: May they find peace
BEING out of the country last year, I missed most of the football season so I was excited to stumble across a programme recently that looked back at last season's Champions League contest.
Neil Sutherland: Champions League contest
Science fiction and suspense mingle in this tale of a group of seismic surveyors working for an oil company in the Sahara who stumble across a metallic object embedded in sandstone.
Saucer
Youngsters could stumble across X-rated scenes from Playboy TV, The Adult Channel and Television X.
XXXTRA CURRICULAR; EXCLUSIVE School TV to get slot amongst porn
You may have caught Have I Got Old News For You last night, or you may stumble across They Think It's All Over Again tomorrow.
RECORD VIEW: Same old BBC
BEAT bobbies stumble across the scene of a crime only once every EIGHT years, it was revealed yesterday.
Beat PCs spot crime once every 8 years
If you stumble across anything illegal hosted by a reputable ISP, let us know at kellysi@mirror.co.uk
kelly's i; KEEPING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THE NET