fall in with

present singular third person falls in with · participle present falling in with · past fell in with · participle past fallen in with

1. To join (a group of people).

   He has fallen in with a bad lot.

   1 more example

   I went on alone and in the course of the days I fell in with many persons, stupid persons, great persons, jaunty ones.

   1922, A. E. Coppard, “Marching to Zion”, in Adam & Eve & Pinch Me

2. To meet with (something).

   We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, which lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails and storm-staysails.

   1846, Frederick Marryat, “chapter 4”, in The Privateersman, or One Hundred Years Ago

   1 more example

   Off the bird set to deliver the glad tidings of immortality to man, but he had not gone far before he fell in with a snake devouring carrion in the path. The bird looked longingly at the carrion and said to the snake, "Give me some of the meat and blood, and I will tell you God's message."

   1918, James George Frazer, Folk-Lore In The Old Testament, volume 1, page 75

3. To accept, abide by (a set of generally agreed rules, or a suggestion).

   It seemed like a good idea, so we fell in with it.