When a liquid that is being heated boils over, it rises and flows over the edge of the container.
Heat the liquid in a large, wide container rather than a high narrow one, or it canboil over. [VERBPARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
When someone's feelings boil over, they lose their temper or become violent.
Sometimes frustration and anger can boil over into direct and violent action. [VERBPARTICLE]
See full dictionary entry for boil
boil over in British English
verb(adverb)
1.
to overflow or cause to overflow while boiling
2. (intransitive)
to burst out in anger or excitement
she boiled over at the mention of his name
boil over in American English
1.
to come to a boil and spill over the rim
2.
to lose one's temper; get excited
See full dictionary entry for boil
Examples of 'boil over' in a sentence
boil over
Then he let his frustration boil over when the linesman failed to award a corner.
The Sun (2017)
He lost his discipline and his frustration boiled over.
The Sun (2017)
Their frustration may boil over.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Once again she boiled over in her anxiety to get on with things.
Frankie Dettori with Jonathan Powell FRANKIE: The Autobiography of Frankie Dettori (2004)
His frustration boils over on to the page.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
If that anger boils over on the pitch and he gets sent off it will be over.
The Sun (2006)
And will not that anger sometimes boil over?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are just a few shows left so the heat has been ramped up from simmering point to almost boiling over.
The Sun (2013)
He allowed his frustrations to boil over at the end of the first half and lost the plot for a booking.
The Sun (2011)
Both teams finished with ten after the game boiled over in the 72nd minute.
The Sun (2015)
It is the time they ask for their unpaid wages - and the time when their anger boils over.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That frustration has boiled over in recent weeks as senior ministers have tried to put together a package of measures to boost growth for the autumn.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Sometimes the frustration boils over.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The anger that boiled over last year when the government proposed to relax planning restrictions showed how little love the public has for the building industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
As evidence emerged of how little progress has been made, the frustration of relatives of those on board the plane boiled over again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He thinks his family and friends have turned I against him and his anger boils over.
The Sun (2007)
Boil hard for 2 min; be careful not to allow the liquid to boil over.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
With bankruptcy looming within weeks, frustration is boiling over in Athens.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Twice, Birmingham had efforts cleared off the line and their frustrations finally boiled over.
The Sun (2007)
Anger boiled over in Pakistan yesterday as heavy rain continued and survivors blocked a major road with boulders to protest at the slow delivery of aid.
The Sun (2010)
And City's frustrations boiled over as two of their key stars began shouting at each other in the tunnel at the interval.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
boil over
British English: boil over /bɔɪl ˈəʊvə/ VERB
When a liquid that is being heated boils over, it rises and flows over the edge of the container.
Heat the liquid in a large, wide container so it doesn't boil over.
American English: boil over
Arabic: يَغْلي حَتَّى يَفِيضُ
Brazilian Portuguese: transbordar quando ferver
Chinese: 沸溢出
Croatian: prekipjeti
Czech: překypět
Danish: koge over
Dutch: overkoken
European Spanish: salirse
Finnish: kiehua yli
French: déborder
German: überkochen
Greek: ξεχειλίζω
Italian: traboccare
Japanese: 噴きこぼれる
Korean: 끓어 넘치다
Norwegian: koke over
Polish: wykipieć
European Portuguese: transbordar
Romanian: a da în foc
Russian: перелиться через край
Latin American Spanish: derramarse por sobrecalentamiento