to bubble over

Examples

• All

• The anxieties of parents constantly threaten to bubble over.

  Academic text (2001)

• Aren't you two just bubbling over with sunshine this morning?

  Death Race 2 (2010)

• You're not exactly bubbling over with happiness.

  Boys on the Side (1995)

• I've been bubbling over with enthusiasm, just waiting to share this with you.

  Blog text (6)

• Tabitha bubbled over with excitement.

  Fiction book (1998)

• "You've ruined my life," I blurted as my rage bubbled over.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Lewis's grief bubbled over.

  Blog text (3)

• When she received the good news, her joy began to bubble over, making her smile uncontrollably.

• The children were bubbling over with excitement as they waited for the parade to start.

Synonyms

E

to explode

vsto bubble over

187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is similar but usually describes sustained overflowing excitement rather than one burst

O

to overflow

vsto bubble over

30 4.1

To be so full of a feeling or idea that people notice

focuses more on feelings that build up inside and cannot be held

S

to swell

vsto bubble over

29 4.2

To feel a strong emotion, like pride or anger, growing inside

is a sudden visible overflow rather than a slow internal rise

G

to gush

vsto bubble over

26 5.6

To praise a person or thing too much, often with strong feeling

relates to strong feelings shown outwardly, not only enthusiastic speech

B

to burst out

vsto bubble over

9 3.3

Suddenly say something or make a loud sound

is more about continuous visible excitement rather than a single sudden outburst

B

to boil over

vsto bubble over

• Informal

7 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is broader, covering strong joyful or excited feelings that overflow rather than anger only

F

to foam at the mouth

vsto bubble over

• Informal

5 8.1

To show very strong anger or excitement in a way people can see

is similar but usually less violent and more like joyful overflowing emotion

S

to spill over

vsto bubble over

3 5.3

To feel an emotion so strongly that you show it openly

describes the same lack of control but with more bubbling build up

G

to go wild over

vsto bubble over

• Informal

1 3.9

Become very excited and happy about something like a song or a pet

is about being so full of emotion that it visibly overflows rather than just liking something

G

to go nutso

vsto bubble over

• Slang

1 9.6

To get very excited and act loudly

is similar but emphasises steady overflowing excitement rather than sudden craziness

B

to bubble over with excitement

vsto bubble over

3.5

Show so much excitement that you cannot hide it

is the same idea but applies to any strong emotion, not only excitement

Antonyms

C

to contain

388 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

S

to suppress

88 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

How Excited

ecstatic

69 4.5

to bubble over

2 4.7

excited

∞ 1.0

pleased

936 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology