bowl over

bowl over

1. Literally, to collide with and force someone or something to fall to the ground. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bowl" and "over." When they were reunited at the airport, my daughter leapt into her boyfriend's arms and bowled him over. It seems that the wind has bowled over all of our trashcans.
2. To thoroughly shock, impress, or overwhelm. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bowl" and "over." My daughter was totally bowled over when her boyfriend returned from his business trip early and showed up at her birthday party. The show of support from everyone just bowled me over.
See also: bowl, over
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bowl someone over

 
1. Lit. to knock someone over. (Fixed order.) We were bowled over by the wind. Bob hit his brother and bowled him over.
2. Fig. to surprise or overwhelm someone. (Fixed order.) The news bowled me over. The details of the proposed project bowled everyone over.
See also: bowl, over
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

bowl over

Astonish, surprise greatly, overwhelm, as in I was simply bowled over by their wonderful performance. This term originated in cricket, where it means "to knock all the bails off the wicket." [Mid-1800s]
See also: bowl, over
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

bowl over

v.
1. To knock someone or something down to the ground: The kids ran down the hallway, bowling over everyone in their way. A strong wind will bowl that billboard over.
2. To make a powerful impression on someone; astound someone: She bowled over everyone at the meeting with her amazing presentation. His new songs bowled me over, so I bought his new CD. You must go hear this poet—you will be bowled over!
See also: bowl, over
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

bowl over

Overwhelm, astonish, surprise. This term originated in the mid-1800s in the game of cricket, where it signifies knocking all the bails off the wicket. It has been used figuratively since the twentieth century, as in “I was just bowled over when I learned he’d gotten the million-dollar grant.” See also blow out of the water.
See also: bowl, over
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • piece out
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • identify with
  • attune to
  • ask back
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
References in periodicals archive
'That's the stage Simon is at now, and he just needs sometime in the middle to bowl overs.'
Cricket: Conway: Simon fit and ready to go
(Stokes) has bowled more overs in these last two games than he had done previously, and again he needs to bowl overs to give us the chance to have that quality in our attack so we know we can ...
England are ordered to rediscover ruthless side
If we want to have more spinners, we need to pick them and let them bowl overs, even if it is in second XI cricket."
FORGET ASHES MELTDOWN AND GET TUFFER; Kerrigan given advice on how to conquer his nerves by crafty old devil Phil; ENGLAND v INDIA THE SECOND INVESTEC TEST LORD'S, STARTS THURSDAY
He told the Chronicle: "There was a bit of jest in the morning I might have to bowl overs with Scotty hurting his finger.
Stone me, it's busy for Rocky! CRICKET
'Don't forget Simon has only played about 40 first-class games in his career and he needs to bowl overs.
Cricket: Jones itching for Windies tour chance; Glamorgan paceman stands on brink of completing toughest trek with Test recall
I might bowl overs 44 and 46, say, with Andy Caddick at the other end.
England's bowlers know their jobs, but not when they will have to do them - and it is showing; Sunday Sun columnist Stephen Harmison says England's bowlers need to be more, not less, predictable
"To get back into the Test side I was told I had to bowl overs and take wickets, and I've done that.
Cricket: Durham bring in the big guns