boil-over
noun
an unexpected result.
boil-over
American
[boil-oh-ver]
/ ˈbɔɪlˌoʊ vər /
noun
Australian and New Zealand Slang.
boil over
British
verb
-
to overflow or cause to overflow while boiling
-
(intr) to burst out in anger or excitement
she boiled over at the mention of his name
boil over
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of boil-over
Noun use of verb phrase boil over
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“To prevent a boil-over of emotion, or in the effort to limit that, I am refraining from making comments on the issue at this time,” the sheriff said.
From New York Times ● Oct. 28, 2022
Obviously the headgear has had the desired effect and hopefully he can be walked or trotted to the start this time in order to prevent a repeat boil-over.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 20, 2012
Hawaiian rookie Fred Patacchia caused a boil-over in the first heat of the day when he took down World No.5, tour veteran and Gold Coast local Luke Egan.
From Time Magazine Archive
Still, she said she can understand why emergency patients sometimes boil over.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
But nearly everyone agrees that it was in 2012 when things really began to boil over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
But when the pressure heightens and matters boil over between the quartet, Wilde carefully examines the resulting eruption instead of recoiling.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
And every now and again, it does boil over.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
Round and round the questions run; Marie-Laure’s mind threatens to boil over.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
