stumble on

present singular third person stumbles on · participle present stumbling on · participle past stumbled on · past stumbled on

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stumble, on.
2. figurativelyintransitiveTo discover or find something by accident.

   Synonyms: chance upon, come across, come upon, happen across, happen upon, stumble across, stumble upon

3. figurativelyintransitiveTo meet somebody by chance.
4. figurativelyintransitivewith onTo 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

   1 more example

   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