tip-over

IPA/tˈɪpˈəʊvə/
IPA/tˈɪpˈoʊvɚ/

tip-over — phrasal verb

  • tip-overbase form
  • tip-overs3rd person singular
  • tip-overing-ing form
  • tip-overedpast simple

1. If a standing object tips over, it falls sideways and ends up lying on a surface

1.phrasal verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

If a standing object tips over, it falls sideways and ends up lying on a surface — either on its side or completely upside down — often because it was unstable or was bumped. If you tip an object over, you make it fall this way, sometimes causing its contents to spill out.

Example

Zola accidentally tipped over the tower of blocks while reaching for her phone.

transitive: [person] + tip + [object] + over

The old floor lamp tipped over when the dog's leash got tangled around its base.

intransitive: [object] + tip + over + [cause clause]

Common collocations
  • tip over + container/vase/glass/cup
  • accidentally tip over
  • nearly tip over
  • tip + object + over
  • tip over onto [surface]
Synonyms
  • overturn

    more formal and suggests a complete turning upside down rather than a sideways fall

  • knock over

    similar meaning but implies an external force or person caused the fall

  • topple

    suggests a slow, unstable fall from a height, often of a large object

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[intransitive] [object] + tips + over

[transitive] [person] + tips + [object] + over

[transitive, pronoun object] [person] + tips + [pronoun] + over

Usage Note

Can be used transitively (someone tips something over) or intransitively (something tips over). The object always comes between 'tip' and 'over' when a pronoun is used: 'tip it over', NOT 'tip over it'.

Common Mistakes

He dropped the glass and it tipped over on the floor.
He dropped the glass and it tipped over onto the floor.
'onto' specifies the surface it lands on, not just the location.

Synonym discussion

Sense: phrasal verb/1

All four describe something moving from upright to a fallen position, but differ in cause, degree, and typical object. 'Knock over' (informal) always implies an external force hitting the object: 'The cat knocked over the vase.' 'Overturn' (more formal) suggests a complete turning upside down, often with visible effort: 'Protesters overturned a police car.' 'Topple' adds the idea of unsteadiness and slow fall, especially of tall objects: 'The pile of boxes toppled slowly.' 'Capsize' is restricted to boats and ships in water. 'Tip over' is the most general — it covers both accidental and intentional falls, sideways or upside down, and works for everything from a coffee cup to a truck.

overturn ↗knock over ↗topple ↗capsize ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • tip + (object) + over + onto + [surface]
  • nearly tip over
  • accidentally tip over

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Tip' comes from Middle English 'tippen', meaning to tilt or knock down, related to Old English 'typp' (top, summit) — so the image is that the top of an object falls, taking the rest down. 'Over' adds the sense of falling sideways. The phrasal verb 'tip over' appears in the 16th century, originally for carts and wagons that tilted and spilled their loads.