fall all over (oneself)
fall all over (oneself)
To expend an inordinate amount of energy or effort to do something, especially as a means of gaining attention or approval. John is such a brownnoser, falling all over himself to impress the teacher. My parents fell all over themselves trying to seem cool to me and my friends. It was pretty embarrassing, to be honest.
See also: all, fall, over
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
fall all over someone
Fig. to give a lot of attention, affection, or praise to someone. My aunt falls all over me whenever she comes to visit. I hate for someone to fall all over me. It embarrasses me.
See also: all, fall, over
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
fall all over oneself
Also, fall over backwards. Make an inordinate effort to do something, try very hard or eagerly. For example, They fell all over themselves to be helpful, but only got in the way, or She fell over backwards trying to please her boss, but it got her nowhere. The first of these hyperbolic expressions dates from the late 1800s, the second from the mid-1900s.
See also: all, fall, over
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- fall all over oneself
- fall over (oneself) to (do something)
- fall over oneself
- fall over yourself
- fall over yourself to do something
- expend
- fall over backward
- fall over backwards
- expend (something) for (something)
- expend for