bowl over

The phrase "bowl over" is commonly used in English to describe overwhelming someone, either physically or emotionally.

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Definition

B2General

(informal, idiomatic)To greatly surprise or astonish someone.

Example

  • She was bowled over by the unexpected news.

B2General

(informal, idiomatic)To impress someone significantly.

Example

  • His performance bowled over the entire audience.

B2Physical

(informal)To knock someone or something to the ground with force.

Example

  • The cyclist was bowled over by a careless pedestrian.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bowl over":

bowl outknock overbowl upblow awayblow out of the watersweep someone off their feetknock into a cocked hatput one overthrow overblow someone's mindfall overblow overbowl a googlykeel overhead over heelsknock downput overhit one out of the ballparktake abackgo overboardblow downsweep the boardblow the roof off