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Definition boil over in British English

boil over phrasal verb

[intransitive] phrasal verb
1

if a situation or feeling boils over, people cannot control their anger and start to fight or argue

Example

Racial tensions in the area were boiling over.

Example

The dispute finally boiled over into a series of violent protests.

Synonyms and related words
2

if a liquid boils over, it rises so much when it boils that it flows over the top of the container that it is in

Example

There was a hissing sound as the soup boiled over.

Synonyms and related words
Definition boil over in British English