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bubble over

B2 informal intransitive
In simple words

To be so excited or happy that you can't hide it — it just comes out of you.

Literal meaning: For a liquid to produce so many bubbles that it overflows the container.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To be visibly overflowing with enthusiasm, joy, or excitement that is hard to contain.

"She was bubbling over with excitement when she found out she'd got the job."

2 A2 neutral

For a liquid to boil or ferment so vigorously that it spills over the edge of its container.

"The soup started bubbling over because we left it on too high a heat."

3 B2 idiomatic informal

For laughter or conversation to break out in an uncontrolled, spontaneous way.

"The children's laughter bubbled over during the class, and even the teacher couldn't keep a straight face."

Usage notes

Most commonly used with positive emotions such as excitement, joy, laughter, or enthusiasm. The physical image is of a liquid bubbling up and spilling over the rim of a container.

Commonly used with

excitement laughter enthusiasm joy energy happiness

Forms

Base
bubble over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bubbles over
he/she/it
Past simple
bubbled over
yesterday
Past participle
bubbled over
have + pp
-ing form
bubbling over
continuous

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Synonyms

overflow with brim over burst with radiate exude gush

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