hard to come by
Meaning
Difficult to find, obtain, or experience; scarce or not easily available.
Origin
From the phrasal verb “come by” meaning “obtain/find,” used from the 19th century; adding “hard to” emphasizes scarcity or difficulty of acquisition.
Notes
Common, neutral phrase meaning “scarce.” Used for objects, opportunities, people, or time. Slightly informal but fine in most contexts.
Examples
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Affordable apartments in this neighborhood are hard to come by.
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After the storm, clean drinking water was hard to come by.
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These days, a reliable mechanic you can trust is hard to come by.
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Original copies of that 1970s album are hard to come by.
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During the holidays, quiet time alone is hard to come by.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically used as a predicate after a noun: “X is hard to come by.” Also as a modifier: “hard-to-come-by X.” Keep “come by” fixed; don’t usually change word order.
Synonyms
- scarce
- hard to find
- difficult to obtain
- in short supply
Antonyms
- easy to find
- readily available
- plentiful