stumble on

Verb

stumble on (third-person singular simple present stumbles on, present participle stumbling on, simple past and past participle stumbled on)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stumble, on.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To discover or find something by accident.

   Synonyms:

   chance upon, come across, come upon, happen across, happen upon, stumble across, stumble upon

3. (figuratively, intransitive) To meet somebody by chance.
4. (figuratively, intransitive, with-on) To continue with difficulty in one's endeavours; to struggle on.
   • After 1849 Lord John Russell's government—virtually a Whig cousinhood—lurched but managed to stumble on until 1852.2009, Robert E. Sullivan, Macaulay: The Tragedy of Power, Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 411
   • The 2-1 home defeat to Everton in October was the first warning shot. Although he stumbled on for another month, that was the end for Hasenhuttl.2023 May 13, Jacob Tanswell, “Southampton’s Premier League relegation: Sackings, staff exits and divided dressing room”, in The Athletic, archived from the original on 16 Jun 2023