1
general::
boil over
PERSON
1. If a difficult situation or negative emotion boils over, it cannot be controlled any more and people start to argue or fight. , boil over
LIQUID
2. If a liquid that is being heated boils over, it rises up and flows over the edge of the pan
• Take the milk off the heat before it boils over., boil over
LIQUID
3. If a pan boils over, the liquid in it rises up and flows over the edge
• That saucepan is boiling over., boil sth down
[ M ]
to reduce information, usually so that it contains only its most important parts
• He had boiled down a lengthy report to just a few paragraphs., boil down to sth
If a situation or problem boils down to something, that is the main reason for it
• The problem boils down to one thing - lack of money., boil sth up
[ M ]
to heat up liquid or food in a pan until it boils
• Could you boil some water up for me?, boil (sth) down
[ M ]
to heat a liquid or food so that part of it is turned into gas and its amount is reduced , boil away
When a liquid boils away, it all turns into a gas so that none of it is left in liquid form. , boil up
If a bad emotion boils up, it becomes very strong and difficult to control
• Anger suddenly boiled up in him.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
verb ADV. rapidly Boil the beans rapidly for ten minutes. VERB + BOIL put sth on to I'll put the kettle on to boil., noun the boil state of boiling VERB + BOIL come to Just before the milk comes to the boil, turn down the heat. | bring sth to Bring the soup to the boil, then simmer for five minutes. | go off (usually figurative) He played brilliantly for the first set but then went rather off the boil. infected spot VERB + BOIL burst, lance The doctor lanced the boil. BOIL + VERB erupt A boil had erupted on his neck. | burst
Oxford Collocations Dictionary