# bowl over

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bowl-over
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To surprise or impress you very much. You use this when something is so amazing that it knocks you off your feet—metaphorically, of course.

For teachers: To affect someone with sudden, intense surprise or admiration. Transitive; frequently occurs in the passive voice to describe the subject's state of being overwhelmed by an experience or quality.

## Examples

- Her beautiful singing voice bowls me over every time.
- I was completely bowled over by the generosity of the local community after the fire destroyed our shop.
- Even the most seasoned diplomats were bowled over by the sudden and unprecedented shift in the regime's foreign policy during the summit.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The news bowled over to me." but "The news bowled me over." — This is a transitive phrasal verb that takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'to'.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is often used in the passive form 'to be bowled over by' something.
- Teaching tip: Connect the figurative meaning to the physical action in the sport of bowling to help students visualize the 'impact' of the surprise.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.