keel over

keel over — 片語動詞

  • keel overbase form
  • keels over3rd person singular
  • keeling over-ing form
  • keeled overpast simple

1. to fall or collapse suddenly, usually because you are ill, weak, or overcome by

1.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

跌倒；昏倒

因生病或虛弱突然倒下

to fall or collapse suddenly, usually because you are ill, weak, or overcome by heat, shock, or exhaustion

例句

Asher stood up too quickly and nearly keeled over in the middle of the classroom.

Asher 站起來的速度太快，在教室中間差點跌倒。

intransitive: person keels over from a specific trigger (sudden movement)

During the summer heatwave, an elderly woman keeled over while waiting for the bus.

那年夏天的熱浪期間，一名老婦人在等公車時突然昏倒。

informal register: collapse from heat / environmental cause

同義詞
  • collapse

    more formal and can apply to buildings or systems; keel over is specifically for people or animals

  • pass out

    emphasises losing consciousness rather than falling; keel over focuses on the act of falling

  • faint

    specifically means lose consciousness temporarily; keel over can describe collapse even if you stay awake

文法句型

person + keel over (from/with + cause)

用法筆記

This sense is informal and describes a sudden physical collapse. It is often used with a following phrase explaining the cause: keel over from heat / with exhaustion / in the middle of something.

常見錯誤

❌I felt so sick I thought I would keel over myself.
✅I felt so sick I thought I would keel over.
💡'Myself' is redundant because keel over already refers to the subject's own collapse.

2. when a boat or ship tips so far sideways that it turns onto its side or complete

2.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

翻覆；傾覆

船隻在水中翻側或倒翻

when a boat or ship tips so far sideways that it turns onto its side or completely flips over in the water

例句

The fishing boat keeled over in the storm, throwing all four crew members into the sea.

那艘漁船在暴風雨中翻覆，四名船員全部落海。

nautical: boat + keel over + cause (storm)

When the heavy cargo shifted to one side, the small vessel keeled over and started taking on water.

當沉重的貨物滑向一側時，小船翻覆並開始進水。

同義詞
  • capsize

    more formal and the standard nautical term; keel over is slightly more informal

  • turn turtle

    idiomatic, specifically means turning completely upside down; less common

  • overturn

    general term for any object flipping over; less specific to boats

文法句型

boat/vessel + keel over (+ cause)

用法筆記

This is the original nautical sense. It is less common in everyday conversation but still widely understood. When describing a ship turning completely upside down, keel over is stronger than simply listing ('lean to one side').