brim over
brim over — phrasal verb
- brim overbase form
- brims over3rd person singular
- brimming over-ing form
- brimmed overpast simple
1. When a container is so full that its liquid contents spill across the top edge —
When a container is so full that its liquid contents spill across the top edge — for example, a bucket filling with rain until water runs down its sides.
The bucket brimmed over with rainwater after the storm flooded the garden.
brim over with [liquid] — container as subject
Camille poured too much juice, and the glass brimmed over onto the kitchen counter.
The old sink brimmed over while Hiro was washing the vegetables for dinner.
When milk boils in a pan, it can quickly brim over and leave a mess on the stove.
Vivek's cup brimmed over as he tried to carry three mugs at once.
- overflow
more common in everyday speech; 'brim over' adds a visual image of the liquid reaching the very rim before spilling
- spill over
slightly less formal; emphasises the result (liquid escaping) rather than the state of being full
文法句型
brim over with [liquid noun]
brim over (no object)
用法筆記
The subject is usually the container (cup, bucket, sink) or the combination of container and liquid together. For a focus on the liquid itself, see sense 3.
常見錯誤
2. If someone is brimming over with a strong feeling, quality, or many ideas, they
If someone is brimming over with a strong feeling, quality, or many ideas, they have so much of it that it shows clearly in their behaviour or words — for example, a child brimming over with excitement before a trip.
The children were brimming over with excitement on the last day of school.
brim over with [emotion] — continuous tense for ongoing state
Imani's grandmother was brimming over with pride at her graduation ceremony.
Owen brimmed over with ideas when the team asked him to help with the project.
After winning the race, Sari was brimming over with joy she could not contain.
The young singer brimmed over with happiness when the crowd cheered for her.
- burst with
similar meaning but suggests the feeling is barely held back; slightly stronger
- be full of
more neutral and less vivid; 'brim over' adds a sense of barely-contained intensity
- be devoid of
formal; the opposite of having a strong feeling
文法句型
brim over with [emotion/idea/quality]
用法筆記
Always takes 'with' before the feeling or idea. The speaker or subject is always a person or group of people — this sense does not apply to objects or places.
常見錯誤
3. When a liquid brims over, it rises above the top rim of its container and moves
When a liquid brims over, it rises above the top rim of its container and moves across it — focusing on the liquid's movement, not the container's state.
The hot soup brimmed over the sides of the bowl and burned Cyrus's hand slightly.
brim over + [the sides / the edge] — liquid as subject with destination
Water brimmed over the fountain's edge and trickled down the old stone sides.
Milk brimmed over the saucepan before Mathieu had time to lower the heat.
Ilan watched as the tea brimmed over the tiny cup onto the saucer.
- flow over
more general; 'brim over' implies the liquid has risen from within the container
- spill over
emphasises the liquid escaping; slightly more dramatic
文法句型
brim over + [the edge / the sides / the top]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the grammatical subject is the liquid (milk, water, soup), not the container. The edge or side of the container follows directly without 'with'.