keeling over
Falling down abruptly
Keeling over is collapsing or falling down suddenly, often from exhaustion, shock, or death: He looked like he was about to keel over from the heat.
The phrase comes from nautical usage—a ship keels over when it capsizes, rolling onto its side.
People keel over from heart attacks, heatstroke, or simply being overwhelmed: I nearly keeled over when I saw the bill.
- faintingTemporary loss of consciousness
- capsizeOverturn in water
- swooningLosing consciousness briefly
- breaking downStopping working properly
- bucklingBending from compression
succumbing · toppling · passing out · out cold · lights out · crumpling · faltering · collapsing · falling down · tripping · staggering · blacking out · giving up · stumbling · losing control · plunging · overturning · surrendering
- Maritime Disastersshipwreck, sinking, capsizing, foundering, drowning
- Unsteady Motionshake, vibrate, vibration, tremor, oscillating
- consciousness statesunconscious, conscious, awake, alert, sleep
keeling overstanding upright
standing tall · planting one's feet · balancing · rooted to the spot · standing one's ground
keeling oversurviving
Remaining alive or intact
staying alive · staying awake · keeping it together · holding on · rallying