boils over
Loses one's temper
When a liquid boils over, it bubbles up and spills beyond the rim of its container due to excessive heat.
This literal meaning extends to emotions and situations that escalate beyond control: Tensions finally boiled over into open conflict.
A person who boils over loses their temper or composure after building frustration.
The phrase suggests pressure that can no longer be contained.
- breaking pointMoment of collapse
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- simmeringCooking below boiling point
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
rage · overflow · bubbling · frustration · climax · tipping point · spillage · pent up · culmination · dispute · loses it · loses control · blows a fuse · uprising · explosion · all hell breaks loose · heated argument · threshold
- losing itloses it, snaps, freaks out, flips out, goes crazy
boils overholds it together
Maintains stability or composure
bottles up · suppresses · keeps one's cool · bites one's tongue · calms down
boils overdefuses
Renders safe from detonation
de-escalates · dies down · calms down · blows over · settles down