crop up

appear or happen suddenly when not expected

B2

What does "crop up" mean?

Something that crops up appears or happens without warning, usually interrupting plans or conversations. The key idea is unexpectedness — whatever crops up was not anticipated or scheduled. It is most commonly used with subjects like problems, issues, topics, names, or opportunities rather than people. You will hear it often in everyday spoken English and informal writing, for example when someone is explaining why their plans changed. The phrase 'something has cropped up' is particularly common as a polite way to explain an unexpected situation that requires your attention.

Examples

How to use it

subject (problem/issue/topic) + crop up

The most common pattern — an unexpected situation, problem, or topic appears without an object following the verb.

A few technical issues cropped up during the presentation, so we had to pause.

keep + cropping up

Use this pattern to describe something that appears unexpectedly again and again.

The same complaint keeps cropping up in our customer feedback, so we need to address it.

if/when + subject + crops up

Use this conditional structure to prepare for something that might appear or happen unexpectedly.

If any questions crop up while you're reading the report, feel free to message me.

something + has cropped up

The present perfect is especially natural when giving a reason or explanation for a change of plans.

I'm afraid I can't make dinner tonight — something has cropped up at work.

name/subject/topic + crops up (in conversation/connection with)

Use this pattern when a name or topic appears unexpectedly in discussion or in relation to something else.

Her name keeps cropping up in conversations about the project, even though she's not officially involved.

Common Collocations

something crops upa problem crops upthe subject crops uphis/her name crops upan issue crops upkeep cropping up

Common Mistakes

Using it with an object

'Crop up' is intransitive, which means it never takes an object. Nothing follows 'up' — the unexpected thing is always the subject of the sentence, not the object.

✗ The delay cropped up a serious problem for us.
✓ A serious problem cropped up and caused a delay for us.
Confusing it with 'come up'

'Come up' is more general and can describe things that arise in a planned or routine way, whereas 'crop up' always implies the event was unexpected or unplanned. If there is no sense of surprise, 'come up' is the better choice.

✗ The topic of next year's budget crops up at every scheduled meeting.
✓ The topic of next year's budget comes up at every scheduled meeting.
Using a person as the subject

'Crop up' is almost always used with things — problems, topics, names, issues — not people. If you want to say a person appeared unexpectedly, 'turn up' is the natural choice.

✗ My old university friend cropped up at the conference.
✓ My old university friend turned up at the conference.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and widely used in both British and American English. It is especially common in spoken and informal written English when explaining an unexpected situation, often as an excuse or reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'crop up' in the future tense, like 'something will crop up'?

It sounds slightly unnatural to use 'will crop up' in a straightforward statement, because predicting an unexpected event feels contradictory. Instead, use a conditional structure like 'if something crops up' or 'should anything crop up', which are both very natural and common.

What kinds of things can 'crop up' as a subject?

The subject is almost always a thing, not a person — typically problems, issues, complications, topics, questions, names, or opportunities. Abstract and situational nouns work best. If you want to describe a person appearing unexpectedly, use 'turn up' instead.

Does 'crop up' always mean something negative or unwelcome?

Not always — the main idea is unexpectedness, not negativity. An opportunity can crop up, or a useful piece of information can crop up in conversation. However, in practice it is very often used for problems or complications, so it does carry a slight association with the unwelcome or inconvenient.

Is 'crop up' used in both British and American English?

Yes, it is understood and used in both varieties, though it is particularly common in British English. It is neutral enough to use in any English-speaking context without sounding out of place.

Can I use 'crop up' to describe something that appears on a screen, like an ad or a notification?

This is possible but not the most natural choice. For things that appear suddenly on a screen or in a physical space, 'pop up' is far more common and idiomatic. 'Crop up' is best reserved for situations, topics, problems, or names that arise unexpectedly in conversation or in the course of events.

Related Phrasal Verbs

pop up
come up
spring up

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