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Glite Dictionary
to double over

to double over

10 3.3
To bend forward suddenly because of strong pain or laughter
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈdʌbəl ˈoʊvər/
translation icon : doblarse
  • There's a stabbing in my belly, again and again, so that I double over with pain.
  • doubled over with laughter
  • doubled over in pain

I mean, people that had perfectly normal lungs, you know, we're doubling over like if they had asthma.

Examples

  • And Wesley is just there, doubled over, losing it.

    Short Term 12 (2013)

  • Stunned, he stands up, only to double over with a wave of nausea.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • I sat on the floor, doubled over, struggling to draw air into my lungs.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The blow connects perfectly, and the guy starts to double over, his knees weak, and he falls.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Duncan fell to his knees on the path, doubled over with horror and guilt.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I limped down the hall, doubled over, and knocked on their half-opened bedroom door.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Within seconds he was doubling over and coughing uncontrollably.

  • A chair fell on my leg!" Jimmy, Luke, and Travis Paterson were doubled over, giggling.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The intruder clapped his hands and doubled over, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • He doubled over in laughter when he heard the hilarious joke.

Synonyms

to double
vsto double over
56 4.2

To bend over because of pain or strong laughter

focuses on sudden bending for pain or laughter rather than illness
to double up
vsto double over
  • Informal
1 3.4

Bend over and curl up because of sudden pain or strong laughter

is a sudden motion typically caused by pain or laughter
to split one's sides
vsto double over
  • Informal
1 5.6

To laugh very hard

can come from pain as well as laughter and involves bending

Antonyms

to straighten up
15 1.6

Sit or stand so your back and shoulders are straight

How Bent

to collapse
579 3.9
to double over
10 3.3
stoop
2 4.8
to bend
194 1.0

Surface Forms

double over infinitive
doubled over past
doubled over past participle
doubling over present participle
doubles over third person singular

Morphology

double + over

The literal constituents do not directly signal the meaning: 'double' is more commonly understood as 'twice' or 'make twofold' and 'over' is a general particle/directional word, so a B1 learner would not automatically derive 'bend forward or curl up.' However, there is a predictable metaphorical link (folding or bending in two) and the particle adds a directional/complete sense, so the meaning is partially inferable but not fully transparent without exposure.

Etymology

The verb double over may come from the image of folding your body in two: double means folded and your top half goes over your legs, like folding a cloth. That's why it now means 'to bend forward suddenly', often because of 'pain' or 'laughter'.