# What does "You really came through for me" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902 "2012-08-18T21:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/1 "2012-08-18T21:12:59Z")
It’s a pretty simple question, I know, but I can’t find an answer on Google. I got an email from someone, which mentioned “you really came through for me today”. I don’t want to sound stupid by replying “thanks…I think?” I assume it’s a good thing, but what does it mean? That I helped him? That I did well? Something else? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/2 "2012-08-18T21:15:31Z")
Yes, it means you helped him and he appreciates it. Good job! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/3 "2012-08-18T21:22:00Z")
I would say it means you helped him somewhat above and beyond the call of duty, or that you provided the needed help even though he feared that you might not be able or willing to do so. Anyway, it is a big thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/4 "2012-08-18T21:23:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Good job! Hehe thanks, but I’m not even sure what I did! ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/5 "2012-08-18T21:37:37Z")
From your user name can I take it that you’re not a native speaker? (Honestly just curious–it’s interesting to me when someone isn’t familiar with an expression which seems like common knowledge to me. I like to find out the story in such cases.) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/6 "2012-08-18T21:54:25Z")
> [@Kiyoshi](#): > > I don’t want to sound stupid by replying “thanks…I think?” Some common replies: “It was my pleasure.” “Well, I think you would’ve done the same for me.” “I’m glad I could help.” “It was nothing, really.” “It was the least I could do.” There are others. Which way you respond depends on how you know this person (work, as a friend, etc.), and how strong strong you want the relation to be. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/7 "2012-08-18T22:07:37Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > “It was nothing, really.” If you saved the guy’s life, don’t use this reply. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/8 "2012-08-18T22:10:30Z")
As far as the bigger, more literal reason for using that phrase, as in ‘came through’ what exactly?, that might be one for Cecil. But I can imagine it’s similar to the expression, “Came through that unscathed” which simply means you endured a challenge or ordeal without any injury. Again, either in a literal sense as in a soldier going thru combat, or something much less like a shy person at a party. So to _‘come through’_ for someone else just means you \*‘entered into’ \*some type of challenge (maybe big but usually small) and \*‘came out through the other side’ \*successfully. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/9 "2012-08-22T04:36:09Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > But I can imagine it’s similar to the expression, “Came through that unscathed” which simply means you endured a challenge or ordeal without any injury. Yes, it’s similar in that they both are phrasal verbs, but the OED lists that as a distinct definition: [QUOTE=OED] 1. To succeed, attain an end; spec. to attain conversion. Chiefly U.S.. . . 1886 A. Edwardes Playwright’s Daughter xvi. 181 You will do as I tell you, and, please God, shall come through without a singe. [/quote] The meaning from the OP is a second, different definition: [QUOTE=OED] 2. To act as desired or expected; to provide required information, money, etc. (see quot. 1914). [/quote] A third definition has to do with perception or appearance: [QUOTE=OED] 3. To emerge, to be apparent, to succeed in giving a favourable impression. [/quote] I’ve always maintained that the hardest thing to master in English are the phrasal verbs, because the same combination of verb and particle can take on various distinct meanings, and because of their essentially arbitrary syntactic restrictions. However, this challenge in English is fortuitously not necessary to use English with a certain degree of effectiveness, because most phrasals have some corresponding verb that carries the same denotation: _They **came through** unscathed =\> They survived unscathed My friend **came through** with the money =\> My friend **produced** the money. Her attractive personality always **comes through** when she presents. =\> Her attractive personality always **emerges** when she presents._ One way that native speakers unconsciously perceive non-native speech is by the “avoidance” of phrasal verbs in preference to such (usually Latin origin) forms. Someone who otherwise is quite fluent, has excellent pronunciation, and otherwise uses a rich vocabulary will still give off a non-native “impression” by avoiding phrasal verbs where native speakers would tend to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/10 "2012-08-22T11:04:36Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > As far as the bigger, more literal reason for using that phrase, as in ‘came through’ what exactly?, I’m with **guizot** ’s “emerge” understanding. In other words: _I needed help. You could could have stayed isolationist and done nothing. But you went above and beyond the call of duty. You broke out of your shell and emerged to help me. You really came through for me._ ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/11 "2012-08-22T17:33:29Z")
It’s a surprisingly interesting question. As a native speaker, the answer is obvious, but the literal phrase is kind of confusing when you think about it. I wonder what the person went through to originate the phrase. From Guizot, it looks like fire. I wonder if a cave or perhaps a group of soldiers (i.e. a siege) could also be referenced. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/12 "2012-08-22T19:00:35Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > It’s a surprisingly interesting question. As a native speaker, the answer is obvious, but the literal phrase is kind of confusing when you think about it. > > I wonder what the person went through to originate the phrase. From Guizot, it looks like fire. I wonder if a cave or perhaps a group of soldiers (i.e. a siege) could also be referenced. I have always thought of the phrase as referencing a siege or other military group cut off from the rest. I’m not saying this is the official origin in any way, but if I say “You really came through for me” I’m meaning it a lot more than “You emerged/stood out from others” or “You were successful in helping me.” If I say it, I mean it in the “You risked your life to break through the enemy lines to save me.” (Which, I suppose, is why I use the phrase rarely and never in a casual sense.) ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/13 "2012-08-22T19:09:58Z")
I think it means a little more that some are saying. To me it means he was really counting on you and you really helped to make it all work. It also suggests that he owns the activity and that you were an essential helper that helped him to boost his own station. . . .YOU came through for ME. . . it’s really all about me. But, that may not have been intentional. . . . basically, it’s like saying “you did a good job for me.” or “you really helped me a great deal.” ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-you-really-came-through-for-me-mean/631902/14 "2012-08-22T21:24:06Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > YOU came through for ME. . . it’s really all about me. But, that may not have been intentional. . . . basically, it’s like saying “you did a good job for me.” or “you really helped me a great deal.” Many verb phrases take on particular idiomatic emphasis by way of such additional personal pronoun object phrases–in this case, _for me_. Compare: _You really came through_. vs. _You really came through for me_. _He bailed out_. vs. _He bailed out on me_. _The audience walked out_. vs. _The audience walked out on her_. Etc.