to bulge out
3
3.7
- phrasal verb
:
sobresalir
- The bag was so full that it began to bulge out at the seams.
- eyes bulge out
- breasts bulging out
- side bulges out
Then GED was aware that the highest tower slowly changed its shape, bulging out on one side as if it grew an arm.
- Then GED was aware that the highest tower slowly changed its shape, bulging out on one side as if it grew an arm.
- Or or Total Recall, where Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't have his helmet on and his eyes begin to bulge out of his head like one of those little squeeze toys.
Examples
-
Leaving Anya in my armchair, I entered the kitchen, where I was greeted by unwashed dishes bulging out of the sink.
Fiction book (1994) -
One side bulges out around the bottom like some of its weight has shifted.
Fiction book (1993) -
Look at me, bulging out of my own clothes.
-
When his eyes start to bulge out, I let him go.
Fiction book (1997) -
Our eyes bulged out like pool balls.
-
His eyes start to bulge out any time anyone so much as mentions the word.
Fiction book (1993) -
Look at me, I'm bulging out like I'm in 3-D.
-
The meatball was literally bulging out his neck.
-
Lucas's eyes were bulging out of his head as if in the utmost surprise.
Blog text (16) -
Aaron's eyes are bulging out of their sockets.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
117
3.2
To become larger often by pressure or by soaking in water
61
3.2
To extend beyond a surface or edge
44
2.9
To fill something with air so it becomes larger and round
31
5.8
To stick out from a surface or edge
28
3.9
Become larger and rounder because of liquid, injury, or illness
21
3.1
To come out quickly from a surface or container
20
4.1
To swell or make part of the body larger
19
4.9
To become swollen because of gas or fluid
16
3.5
To stick out from something like a wall or table
12
8.2
To swell because of pressure inside, for example a stomach or a balloon
7
2.9
To swell so that part of something sticks out
5
3.5
To make something larger by filling with air or pride
2
4.4
To make something larger or more full, for example by filling it with air
1
5.4
To stick out or swell in a visible way
1
9.2
To become much larger, often by filling with air
To stick out from a surface like a bump
To stick out in a round shape, like a jacket or sail in the wind
To make someone or something rounder and fuller
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'bulge' already means to swell or stick out and the particle 'out' simply specifies outward direction, so the combined meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. This verb + particle compositional pattern is transparent and common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand 'bulge out'.
Etymology
The verb bulge out comes from a simple picture: imagine a bag, pocket, or suitcase so full that it makes a round bump that pushes outward. The word bulge is that rounded swelling and out shows the direction, so 'bulge out' means 'stick out' in a rounded way.