English idioms can be hard to grasp, especially if English is your second language. One common idiom which can often confuse people is the saying “it comes to bear.” So what does this idiom mean? And when can you utilize it in your daily life?
In this sense, the word “bear” relates to the idea of producing something. So, in short, when you say that something will “come to bear,” you are really saying that it will produce or reveal itself and its effects in due time. For example, you could say:
- Don’t worry about my new business ventures. In short time it will come to bear.
- Will mounting international pressures come to bear?
- Longstanding city plans will finally come to bear.
Nuanced Meaning Of “It Comes To Bear”
In addition to the basic meaning of something being produced, “it comes to bear” can also describe when you begin to feel the pressure of a situation. It is thought that this second meaning came from the phrase “brings to bear,” which means “to apply pressure or affect influence.”
Most sources agree that “brings to bear” was combined to form “it comes to bear.” Thus, this popular phrase can have multiple meanings. In either case, however, “it comes to bear” should describe when pressure is being felt or when something will be produced/fruitful later.
Let’s look at some examples of “it comes to bear” being used to describe pressure being felt:
- Will pressure put on the school system by teacher strikes come to bear?
- Newfound pressure put on the justice system will soon come to bear.
- With all of his new responsibilities, errors will come to bear.
Related: Bare Minimum or Bear Minimum: A Look At Bear vs. Bare
