The phrase 'happen along' means to stumble upon or chance upon something or someone unexpectedly. Synonyms for 'happen along' include encounter, discover, come across, find, chance upon, and bump into. These words convey the same idea of discovering something by chance. Other similar phrases include 'stumble upon,' 'fall upon,' and 'chance upon.' In general, these phrases imply a sudden and unexpected discovery rather than a planned encounter. Using synonyms for 'happen along' can add variety and interest to your writing and help you avoid repeating the same phrase too often.