spoil over

USAGE SUMMARY

"spoil over" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe when a liquid boils so vigorously that it spills over and out of the container, or when too much of a liquid is added to a container and it overflows. Example sentence: "The soup on the stove boiled so vigorously that it began to spoil over and made a mess on the kitchen floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In certain neighbourhoods it's not unusual to see four or five being dug in the same street – boxy hoardings squatting on front gardens with conveyor belts carrying spoil over the pavement into a skip.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The sewer diggers had perfected the "Clay-Kicking" technique, whereby one man digs in a sitting position and passes the spoil over his head to a partner.

BBC

You may place it in the pantry with your other baking supplies, as it won't spoil over time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I saw the episode spoiled over and over and over again on each one of these networks.

TechCrunch

This may seem minor but far too many modern rock albums are at least partly spoiled by over-production or lack of imagination in the studio.

BBC

We've been too spoiled over the last decade".

The New York Times

"We have been spoilt over the years – over the last 20 years so successful.

The Guardian - Sport

In August 2011 two researchers at the University of California at San Diego reported (in the journal Psychological Science) that in a controlled experiment, "subjects significantly preferred spoiled over unspoiled stories in the case of both … ironic twist stories and … mysteries".

The New York Times

"When it comes to water, most of the folks in Atlanta have been fairly spoiled over the years," said Ted Larrabee, executive coordinator for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, established last year to oversee all of greater Atlanta.

The New York Times

For television viewers around the world, who have been spoiled over the past decade by a seemingly endless succession of championship cliffhangers running to the final race of the year, it almost seems unreal.

The Guardian - Sport

Our next attempt at finding stable samples also went sour. Regular 2% milk does form a homogeneous solution in water. We mixed milk with water to create samples of various turbidities, all of which were stable. However, milk is an organic substance which means that is spoils over time. Despite our best refrigeration efforts, after one night, the sample went bad and the turbidity changed.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing liquids, use "spoil over" to vividly portray a messy overflow due to vigorous boiling or overfilling.

Common error

Avoid using "spoil over" when a simpler term like "overflow" or "go bad" would suffice. "Spoil over" is most effective when conveying a specific image of messy, forceful overflow or deterioration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spoil over" primarily functions as a verb phrase + preposition. It describes an action where something (often liquid) not only deteriorates but also overflows its container. Ludwig shows examples where it describes liquids spilling or food decaying over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spoil over" is a grammatically correct but rarely used expression that often refers to a liquid overflowing or food deteriorating. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s usable in written English. Its usage spans across neutral to informal contexts, including news, wikis and science. While the phrase is understood, simpler terms like "overflow" or "go bad" might be more common in everyday conversation. When using "spoil over", aim for contexts where you want to paint a specific picture of messy overflow or noticeable decay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overflow

Focuses on the act of liquid exceeding its container's capacity. Similar to "spoil over" when referring to liquids.

spill over

Emphasizes the accidental or uncontrolled flow of a substance beyond its boundaries. Shares the overflow aspect of "spoil over".

go bad

Highlights the deterioration or decay of something, relating to the 'spoil' aspect. Applies to contexts where food or other perishables degrade.

become rotten

Similar to 'go bad', but implies a more advanced state of decomposition and is more often used with food items.

decompose

Refers to the process of organic matter breaking down, linking to the spoilage aspect of the original phrase.

become contaminated

Implies that something has been corrupted or made impure, echoing the negative connotation of spoilage.

become tainted

Suggests a negative alteration, either physical or moral, similar to something being 'spoiled'.

be overindulged

Shifts the focus from physical spoilage to excessive pampering or gratification, related to 'spoiling' someone.

be coddled

Similar to “be overindulged”, referring to excessive care and pampering.

be pampered

Stresses the idea of being excessively spoiled with attention and care.

FAQs

How can I use "spoil over" in a sentence?

You can use "spoil over" to describe when a liquid boils vigorously and overflows, like "The milk began to "spoil over" the pot" or to indicate food that has deteriorated.

What does it mean when food "spoils"?

When food "spoils", it means it has deteriorated and become unfit for consumption due to bacterial or fungal contamination. The term "go bad" is also often used.

What are some other words to describe food going bad?

Besides ""spoil over"", you could say the food "goes bad", "becomes rotten", "decomposes", or "becomes tainted" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is "spoiled"?

Yes, "spoiled" is the past participle of "spoil" and is often used to describe food that has gone bad (e.g., "The milk is "spoiled""). It can also describe someone who is excessively indulged.