fall over — to fall down, especially by losing one's balance
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to fall down, especially by losing one's balance
Pronunciation (IPA): /fɔːl ˈoʊvər/
Example Sentences
- My little brother fell over his own feet trying to run away from the dog.
- Be careful on the ice, or you might fall over!
- The tower of blocks fell over the moment the cat touched it.
fall over
VERB[/fɔːl ˈoʊvər/]
to fall down, especially by losing one's balance
The toddler tried to run too fast and fall over onto the grass.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal verb combines Old English 'feallan' (to fall, drop) with 'ofer' (over, across). Originally denoting the physical action of falling over or beyond something, it evolved to describe the vivid motion of losing balance and toppling sideways or forward, emphasizing directional collapse rather than simple downward descent.
Breakdown
fall (Old English 'feallan': to drop, descend) + over (Old English 'ofer': across, above, beyond). The combination emphasizes directional, tumbling motion distinct from the simple vertical meaning of 'fall' alone.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother fell over his own feet trying to run away from the dog.”
“Be careful on the ice, or you might fall over!”
“The tower of blocks fell over the moment the cat touched it.”
“Everyone fell over laughing when the teacher told that joke.”
“She fell over while trying to put on her shoes in a hurry.”
📚Related Words
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