English Reference

Phrasal verb

bubble over

Definition

phrasal verb. to be so full of a feeling, like excitement or joy, that you cannot hide it. You use this when someone is very enthusiastic.

phrasal verb. to manifest an intense emotion, typically positive, in an overt or irrepressible manner. It functions as an intransitive verb, though it is frequently followed by a prepositional phrase starting with 'with'.

Examples

“She is bubbling over with excitement about her new job.”

“When the team won the championship, the fans were bubbling over with joy and started dancing in the streets.”

“The young artist was bubbling over with creative energy, filling dozens of sketchbooks with vibrant designs in a single week.”

Examples

simple

“She is bubbling over with excitement about her new job.”

contextual

“When the team won the championship, the fans were bubbling over with joy and started dancing in the streets.”

complex

“The young artist was bubbling over with creative energy, filling dozens of sketchbooks with vibrant designs in a single week.”

Usage

usually followed by 'with' and a noun representing a positive emotion.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'bursting with' or 'overflowing with'; 'bubble over' implies a more active, visible energy like a boiling pot.

Pitfall

She was bubbling over of joy.

She was bubbling over with joy.

the preposition 'with' is required to connect the verb to the emotion; learners often use 'of' by analogy with 'full of'.

Phrasal verb

Particles

over

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

bubble + over + (with + object)

Synonyms

overflowbrimradiateburst with

Antonyms

suppresscontainhide

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/bubble-over
English Reference