tip over
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To cause something to fall from an upright position onto its side; to knock something over.
- Verb (intransitive):
- To fall from an upright position onto its side; to become overturned.
Usage
- The verb tip over describes the action of an object moving from a vertical, stable position to a horizontal or sideways one. It can be used for both the action of causing this to happen (transitive) and the event of it happening by itself (intransitive).
Examples
- Transitive use (causing the action):
- Be careful not to tip over that glass of water.
- The strong wind tipped over the trash cans.
- Intransitive use (the action happening):
- The boat might tip over if everyone stands on one side.
- The lamp tipped over and broke.
Advanced Usage
- "to be on the point of tipping over": to be very unstable and about to fall.
- The stack of books was wobbling and on the point of tipping over.
Variants and Related Words
- Overturn (verb): A more formal synonym for tip over.
- Knock over (phrasal verb): Very similar in meaning to the transitive use of tip over.
- Topple (verb): To fall or cause to fall, often from a height or in a forward direction.
Synonyms
- Overturn
- Knock over
- Upset (as in "upset a glass")
- Topple
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Turn over: Can be used similarly to the transitive meaning of tip over.
- He accidentally turned over his soup bowl.
- Fall over: Similar to the intransitive meaning of tip over.
- The toddler fell over while trying to walk.
Related Idioms
- (Just) the tip of the iceberg: A small, visible part of a much larger problem. (Note: This idiom uses "tip" in a different, non-literal sense and is not directly related to the phrasal verb tip over).
Verb
- turn from an upright or normal position
- The big vase overturned
- The canoe tumped over
- cause to overturn from an upright or normal position
- The cat knocked over the flower vase
- the clumsy customer turned over the vase
- he tumped over his beer