bring (someone or something) to a boil

bring (someone or something) to a boil

1. Literally, to heat a liquid and cause it to boil. After you bring that water to a boil, we will add the pasta.
2. To cause someone to become very angry. Watch what you say to him—criticism of his novel tends to bring him to a boil. Please, stop yelling at me—I didn't mean to bring you to a boil!
See also: boil, bring
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bring someone to a boil

Fig. to make someone very angry. This really brought her to a boil. She was fit to be tied. Lily was really brought to a boil by the news.
See also: boil, bring

bring something to a boil

to heat liquid to its boiling point; to make something boil. First, you must bring the soup to a boil.
See also: boil, bring
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • bring to a boil
  • boil over
  • come to a boil
  • make (one's) blood boil
  • make blood boil
  • make one's blood boil
  • make somebody's blood boil
  • make your blood boil
  • bring (something) crashing down (around) (one)
  • bring crashing down