A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

come forward • go forward
come forward —
1
. stand out: The great door was ornamented
with figures, some coming forward so that they looked real.
2. present oneself (with an offer to help): The police have
asked for witnesses of the accident to come forward. 3. (of an
issue) be raised for discussion: The matter was deferred at last
evening’s meeting, but will come forward at our next session.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase come to the fore—(also: come to the front) become con-
spicuous or popular: Andrew Young came to the fore during
the Civil Rights marches of the 
1
960s.
go forward—
1
. improve; make progress: Work on the new
hospital is going forward at a satisfactory pace. 2. be presented
(to an authoritative body) for consideration or approval: Your
come down in the last shower
– 78 –

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name will go forward to the committee when they are consid-
ering the new appointments. 3. (of the clock or watch) be moved
to a later hour: Do the clock go forward in the spring?
See also: come out ahead / go ahead.
come forward with something • go forward with
something
come forward with something —offer a plan, solution, answer,
etc.: I’ll wait until he comes forward with some new propos-
als.
go forward with something —(also: go ahead with something )
proceed with smth.: The Committee decided to go forward
with its plans of social reform.
come free • go free
come free —become unattached: After throwing the ropes
across the river to loop the boat and pulling on them, the boat
came free.
go free —be released from confinement or imprisonment:
The court has determined that she was not a willing partici-
pant and therefore may go free.