Meaning of bowl over | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To overwhelm; to cause to fall to the ground.
   idiomatic, transitive
2. To overwhelm with astonishment or wonder; to flabbergast.
   idiomatic, transitive
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bowl, over.

Equivalents

Examples

“This tribe lived largely upon the smaller animals which they bowled over with their stone hatchets after making a wide circle about their quarry and driving it so that it had to pass⟳ close⟳ to one of their number⟳.”

“The Celtic midfielder appeared to be bowled over by Milorad Pekovic but Italian referee Luca Banti waved play⟳ on.”

“There was only one more guard between her and her goal, and despite her preparation, it almost all went south. The woman walked out of a door Fina hadn't even known was there, nearly bowling her over, and it was all she could do to bring⟳ the butt of the rifle up to smash the insurgent's nose in. She cried out, and Fina brought the butt 'round again, and this time the bone must have⟳ pierced the brain because the body went limp with a final, plaintive gurgle.”

CEFR level