bowl over
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle over
Meanings
Make someone fall, or astonish them completely
Why “over”? The top moves to the bottom. The object turns over.
“The news bowled her over.”
“The running dog bowled the child over.”
Test yourself
“The news bowled her over.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
boil over
Same over pattern: flip
(of liquid) Overflow while boiling
fall over
Same over pattern: flip
Topple from an upright position to the ground; Try very eagerly to do something ("fall over yourself")
flip over
Same over pattern: flip
Rotate quickly to the other side
keel over
Same over pattern: flip
Fall sideways suddenly, especially because of illness or shock
knock over
Same over pattern: flip
Cause something to fall by hitting it; Hit a person with a vehicle, knocking them down
push over
Same over pattern: flip
Push something so it falls on its side
roll over
Same over pattern: flip
Turn by rotating sideways
run over
Same over pattern: flip
Hit and drive over a person or animal with a vehicle; Quickly review something; Continue beyond the planned end time
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