Cool MateCome on then vs Hurry up vs Let's go vs Move along
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come on then
Hurry up
Let's go
Move along
| Come on then | Hurry up | Let's go | Move along | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌm ɒn ðen//🇺🇸 //kʌm ɑn ðɛn// | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //lɛts ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //lɛts ɡoʊ// | 🇬🇧 //muːv əˈlɒŋ//🇺🇸 //muːv əˈlɔːŋ// |
| Meaning | A phrase used to encourage someone to proceed. | Do something faster. | A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. | To keep going or proceed. |
| Example | Come on then, let's get started with the meeting. | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! | Let's go to the park this afternoon. | The crowd was asked to move along to avoid blocking the entrance. |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | Come on then, let's go, Come on then, hurry up, Come on then, show me, Come on then, what's the plan | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | let's go out, let's go home, let's go eat | move along quickly, move along smoothly, move along with progress, move along the path, move along to the next topic |
| Common mistakes | Misunderstanding the tone - it's encouraging, not commanding., Using in formal situations where it's inappropriate. | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. | Using 'lets' instead of 'let's' as a contraction for 'let us', Confusing the meaning with 'let go', Not using it with a verb following, e.g., 'let's walk' | 'Move along' used incorrectly as a single verb without 'along', Confusing 'move along' with 'move on' which has a different connotation, 'Move along' used in inappropriate formal situations |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to prompt someone to take action. Avoid in formal settings. | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. | Commonly used for invitations or suggestions. Suitable in casual conversations among friends, but less formal in business settings. | Use 'move along' to suggest progression or to tell someone to leave. It's neutral and suitable in most contexts, but can be more direct in informal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come on then vs Hurry up vs Let's go vs Move along
What's the difference between Come on then, Hurry up, Let's go, and Move along?
Come on then: A phrase used to encourage someone to proceed. Hurry up: Do something faster. Let's go: A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. Move along: To keep going or proceed.
Which is more common: Come on then, Hurry up, Let's go, and Move along?
Let's go is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Come on then: Come on then, let's get started with the meeting. Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! Let's go: Let's go to the park this afternoon. Move along: The crowd was asked to move along to avoid blocking the entrance.
Can I use Come on then, Hurry up, Let's go, and Move along interchangeably?
Not always. Come on then, Hurry up, Let's go, and Move along are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.