stumble on

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. (intransitive with prepositional object, figuratively) To discover or find something by accident.
3. (intransitive with prepositional object, figuratively) To meet somebody by chance.
4. (intransitive with on as adverbial particle, figuratively) To continue with difficulty in one's endeavours; to struggle on.
   • 2009, Robert E. Sullivan, Macaulay: The Tragedy of Power‎, Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 411:

     After 1849 Lord John Russell's government—virtually a Whig cousinhood—lurched but managed to stumble on until 1852.

   • 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 2023-06-16:

     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.

• (discover or find by accident, meet by chance): chance upon, come across, come upon, happen across, happen upon, stumble across, stumble upon

• Tumbleson, tumbles on