fɔːl ˈoʊvər
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- fall
- Particle:
- over
- Separable:
- No
What does "fall over" mean?
- To lose balance and drop to the ground
- To collapse from a standing position
- To be very eager to do something (informal)
Examples
- The vase fell over and smashed on the floor.
- He drank so much he fell over.
- The strong wind made the tree fall over.
- Companies are falling over themselves to hire her.
- Be careful not to fall over the toys on the floor.
How to use it
'Fall over oneself' or 'fall over themselves' means to be very eager or try too hard. Similar to 'fall down' but emphasizes the toppling motion.
Similar expressions
topple
collapse
tumble
tip over
Opposites
stand up
remain upright
Related phrasal verbs
- fall down
To drop to the ground from a standing position
- fall apart
To break into pieces
- fall behind
To fail to keep up with others or with a schedule
- fall through
To fail to happen or be completed as planned
- fall off
To become detached and drop from something
- fall out
To have an argument and stop being friendly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "fall over" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.