Dictionary

boil over en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To boil to such an extent as to overflow its container.
   • I forgot about the rice and it boiled over.
2. (idiomatic, intransitive, of anger, usually) To reach the point where aggressive action is taken.
   • But as the half progressed, Liverpool's pressure and high-tempo passing game increased United's frustration and it threatened to boil over on the stroke of half-time when Van Persie, who had already been booked, was involved in angry verbal exchanges with several Liverpool players, particularly Gerrard. 2013 September 1, Phil McNulty, Liverpool 1-0 Man Utd, via BBC Sport:
   • He b'iled right over, and the tongue-lashing he give that boss Right Liver beat anything I ever listened to. There was heap of Scriptur' language in it, and more brimstone than you'd find in a match factory. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
3. (intransitive) To act aggressively angry.
   • He boiled over all night.
4. (intransitive, of horse(s)) To buck aggressively.
   • The stallion boiled over, throwing Robert from her back.

Forms

Deriveds

boilover · a watched pot never boils over

Relateds

boiling point · overboil

Translations (17)

nl overkoken (boil so as to overflow) · ru убега́ть (boil so as to overflow) · pl wykipieć (boil so as to overflow) · mhr велаш (boil so as to overflow) · bg изкипявам (boil so as to overflow) · gd cuir thairis (boil so as to overflow) · la efferveō (boil so as to overflow) · nrf bouoilli par dessus (boil so as to overflow) · de überkochen (boil so as to overflow) · sv koka över (boil so as to overflow) · fr déborder (boil so as to overflow) · ru убежа́ть (boil so as to overflow) · pl kipieć (boil so as to overflow) · az daşmaq (boil so as to overflow) · bn উপচানো (boil so as to overflow) · am ገነፈለ (boil so as to overflow) · ro da pe dinafară (boil so as to overflow)