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Glite Dictionary
to fall all over

to fall all over

1 7.6
To praise or thank someone too much and show strong liking for them
  • phrasal verb
  • /fɔl ɔl ˈoʊvər/
  • Informal
translation icon : derramarse
  • At the awards ceremony, the audience fell all over the talented singer, showering her with applause and compliments.
  • just falling all over

Examples

  • Then Pam starts falling all over him, praising that pie.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Those ladies fell all over May Anna, telling her how proud they were that a Butte girl had done so well and handing her slips of paper for her autograph.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • When a client calls to ask how their release went, everyone in the office falls all over themselves transferring the call to me.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • She's always falling all over you.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "People were falling all over themselves thanking each other" for being allowed to participate in the care of this delightful lady.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • They were falling all over themselves to flatter Buster.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Fans fell all over the actor after the premiere, eager to take photos and express their admiration.

  • During the charity event, attendees were falling all over themselves to thank the volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

Synonyms

to gush
vsto fall all over
26 5.6

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

is broader, covering actions and feelings as well as spoken praise
to drool over
vsto fall all over
  • Informal
14 6.8

To look at someone or something while wanting to have it very much

covers broader affectionate or grateful behaviour, not only visual desire
to gush over
vsto fall all over
4 7.0

Praise a person or thing in a very excited way

shows excessive feeling more broadly, not only by speaking or praising
to gush about
vsto fall all over
4 6.1

Talk in a very excited way to praise someone or something

includes those actions but also covers physical or grateful displays
to worship the ground someone walks on
vsto fall all over
  • Informal
7.4

To admire someone too much and ignore their faults

is similar but can be less absolute and less worshipful in tone
to point-and-drool
vsto fall all over
  • Slang
9.9

Look at something you want and show strong desire openly

is the general idea but is less slangy and more neutral in tone
to go all goo-goo
vsto fall all over
  • Informal
9.9

To act silly and very loving when you see something cute

expresses excess affection more seriously rather than playfully or silly
to fall on someone's neck
vsto fall all over
7.2

Hug someone tightly because you feel very happy or relieved

expresses excessive affection more generally, not focused only on hugging

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Affectionate

to fawn
25 7.7
to fall all over
  • Informal
1 7.6
to dote
18 7.7
to admire
743 1.6
to compliment
95 1.6

Surface Forms

fall all over infinitive
falling all over present participle
falls all over third person singular
fell all over past
fallen all over past participle

Morphology

fall + all + over

The phrase uses a literal motion verb 'fall' plus the particle 'over' with 'all' as an intensifier, so learners may infer a sense of being overwhelmed or collapsing onto someone, which is related to the idiomatic meaning of excessive admiration. However the specific sense 'to fawn over or show exaggerated affection' is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the parts, so B1 learners who know the words would likely only partially infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrasal verb fall all over may come from the image of people so excited that they actually fall over someone, crowding and pressing close. So the phrase now means 'to show too much admiration or gratitude'.