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I often hear the phrase "(something) coming up in the next half hour" when I hear a radio. "(something)" means a specific piece of news there.

As far as I understand that phrase is used to introduce what we will hear in the next half an hour. But, according to this definition it's a bit strange, I mean how can we ever relate "unexpectedly appeared" to that context?

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  • come up could be used with more than 15 meanings or definitions
    – Leo
    Oct 30, 2014 at 5:27

2 Answers 2

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Have a look at definition 1.1 on that same page:

come up: (Of a specified time or event) approach or draw near: she’s got exams coming up

In this definition, the time is known and the event is expected. This definition applies to the context of a radio announcer saying (some news item) is coming up in the next half hour.

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  • Let me ask why do you replace my couple unexpectedly appeared event with to your relate "unexpectedly appeared" to? Does the phrase make no sense? Oct 30, 2014 at 5:12
  • To my American English ear, the wording was unnatural. I tried hard to stay with what I thought you intended to say. "Couple" often means to "join" two objects or distinct ideas. "Relate" is more natural in this context. Here, relate is to show or establish logical or causal connection between. Other possible word choices here include "associate ... with" and "understand ... in". I couldn't figure out how to make "event" sound natural without more extensive changes. No offense intended. Oct 30, 2014 at 14:44
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Look at Definition 1.1 and the three example sentences. Doesn't the third example seem to be a parallel to the "something's coming up in the next thirty minutes" radio example. This definition talks about the approach of a specified (Cf. specific) event.

By the way, don't get confused by the use of the word something in the first definition. Something refers to a specific item or topic ("piece of news") in both the first definition and the "sub-definition" 1.1.

If the radio announcer actually uses the word something, he or she is still referring to a specific piece of news. It is just that the announcer has not referred to it by name... maybe to keep the listeners in suspense so that they will continue to listen to the show.

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