comeback

Everyday

1. A comeback is when someone or something becomes successful or popular again after a bad time: the team made a great comeback. tree →
2. A comeback is a quick, clever reply to an insult or a joke. tree →
3. (written as two words, verb) To come back means to return. tree →

In the lessons

In sport, «a comeback» is when a team losing badly fights back to win or draw; in music and fashion, an old style or star can make a comeback. In playground talk, «a good comeback» is a smart answer; pupils learn that a kind or calm reply is better than a mean one. Phrases: «make a comeback», «stage a comeback», «comeback kid», «a quick comeback».

Examples

• Our team was 3–0 down but made an amazing comeback. tree →
• Flared jeans are making a comeback. tree →
• The singer's comeback concert sold out. tree →
• He had no comeback when she proved him wrong. tree →
• Her funny comeback made everyone laugh. tree →
• Come back home before dark! tree →

Note

Noun is one word: «a comeback»; verb is two words: «come back». In maths/sport problems, a comeback means one side's score overtakes the other's: from 0–3 to 4–3 they scored 4 goals in a row.