Meaning of boilover | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A hazardous situation where an attempt is made to extinguish semi-enclosed oil- or petrochemical-fuelled fire with water, generating steam which propels the burning fuel outwards.
   countable, uncountable
2. A sporting event with an unexpected outcome, especially a horse race where the favourite fails to win.
   Australia, New-Zealand, countable, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“[…] there was not much good horsemanship. The Derby itself was an ordinary race, something of a boilover for Dark Star […]”

CEFR level