double over
B1 neutral mixed both
In simple words
To bend your body forward from the middle because something hurts or is very funny.
Literal meaning: To fold the body back over itself, like doubling a piece of paper.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To bend sharply at the waist due to sudden pain, such as stomach cramps or a physical blow.
"He was doubled over in pain after being hit in the stomach."
Grammar: mixed
2 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To bend sharply at the waist from uncontrollable laughter.
"The joke was so good that we were all doubled over with laughter."
Grammar: mixed
Usage notes
Used both intransitively (the person doubles over spontaneously) and transitively (something causes the person to double over). Very natural in both spoken and written English.
Commonly used with
pain laughter cramps punch stomach agony
Forms
Base
double over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
doubles over
he/she/it
Past simple
doubled over
yesterday
Past participle
doubled over
have + pp
-ing form
doubling over
continuous
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