1
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Phrase(s): bowl someone over
1. Lit. to knock someone over. (Fixed order.) • We were bowled over by the wind. • Bob hit his brother and bowled him over. 2. Fig. to surprise or overwhelm someone. (Fixed order.) • The news bowled me over. • The details of the proposed project bowled everyone over.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Astonish, surprise greatly, overwhelm, as in I was simply bowled over by their wonderful performance. This term originated in cricket, where it means "to knock all the bails off the wicket." [Mid-1800s]
American Heritage Idioms