topple off

topple off

1. To tumble or plummet over the edge (of something tall). The weather vane came toppling off the roof during the storm. Please don't get so close to the edge of that cliff—one strong gust of wind, and you'll go toppling off!
2. To cause someone or something to tumble or plummet over the edge (of something). In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "topple" and "off." Watch where you're walking—you nearly toppled that bucket off of the roof! He charged into the mutineer and toppled him off the boat.
See also: off, topple
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

topple off (of) something

 and topple from something
to fall off the top of something very tall. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Careful there! You might topple off of that wall. I didn't get too close to the edge, because I was afraid of toppling off. She toppled off the wall. The vase toppled from its shelf in the quake.
See also: off, topple
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • topple off of (something)
  • topple from (something)
  • have an/the edge over (someone or something)
  • have, etc. an/the edge on/over somebody/something
  • have an edge on
  • have an edge on (someone or something)
  • back and edge
  • edge around
  • edge around (something)
  • cutting edge
References in periodicals archive
We also reduce the risk of damage to neighboring homes that could be affected if a vulnerable house were to topple off its foundation.
Beware the chest of drawers - you may think it's a safe place for your unsecured television to sit on, but adventurous children use drawers for climbing practice, and anything heavy on top can topple off.
He then thought he had cleared 3.50m only for the bar he brushed to topple off after he landed on the mat.
The right wheel of the jeepney burst, causing it to topple off the mountain road.
On my birthday last year, I managed to topple off my stilettos and land on my handbag, smashing my makeup, perfume, phone and causing a tremor of 7.5 on the Richter scale.
MY first thoughts when seeing it is that it''s going to be very wobbly and unstable and I fear I may topple off my chair.
MY first thoughts when seeing it is that it''''s going to be very wobbly and unstable and I fear I may topple off my chair.
It'll be great." As long as none of the OAP rockers topple off it...
Whether it's right, or whether it's wrong, it needs saying anyway: the South appears to believe it has a God-given right to sup off a silver spoon, while the flat-capped North must beg for any crumbs that somehow topple off the table.
With machine guns mounted on the backs of jeeps, the army needed men with a lower center of gravity--that is, shorter--who'd be less likely to topple off while operating the guns.
I've looked in lots of places, but most have shades or bases that are too big and would therefore topple off the shelf.
It enabled them to stage a scene from recent 'blockbuster', titled "Las-Del", in which a boy, girl, and horse topple off a cliff.
I'm scared he may topple off and do himself an injury.
If a machine gun mount fails, bullets could go flying where they're not supposed to or a machine gun could topple off a tank or truck.
Snapshot #2: My 18-year-old sister Luanne, standing with clumps of friends, all of them grinning and wearing the dark green gowns of their upcoming graduation and clutching mortarboards that threaten to topple off their heads.