to fall over something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to fall over something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical action where someone trips or stumbles due to an object or obstacle in their path. Example: "He was so distracted by his phone that he didn't see the curb and ended up falling over something."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That makes trees that already have their base flooded more likely to fall over and that's something that we're really going to worry about".

Huffington Post

I had it in the back of my mind that something was going to go wrong and I was going to fall over or something, so it was a relief to run under 13 seconds.

Independent

So you know… things I would have avoided doing because I would have felt I'm going to fall over or something… I am not so risk adverse… I know I've got people that understand what I suffer from and are going to be able to help me and not allow me to fall,….

BMJ Open

(8, female, B+TS) So you know… things I would have avoided doing because I would have felt I'm going to fall over or something… I am not so risk adverse… I know I've got people that understand what I suffer from and are going to be able to help me and not allow me to fall,….

BMJ Open

Still, at Frieze, as soon as you've seen something you hate, you fall over something you like.

The Guardian - Arts

Take care not to fall over backwards.

WikiHow

But when a blindfolded Survivor contestant walks into something or falls over something, it's okay to laugh!

Huffington Post

"This selection of experts shows considerable agreement that if you push the climate system too hard, there is a fairly high chance that something will fall over," says Richard Alley, a climate expert at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, who didn't participate with either effort.

Science Magazine

They think parents will fall over with gratitude just because they've been given something.

Independent

If they were going to use a negative word, I would have liked them to use "oblivious": "bungling" makes me think about falling over, not missing out on something.

The Guardian - Arts

Daredevil sky-diver Felix Baumgartner was the talk of the web but not because a video captured him falling over or saying something foolish.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "to fall over something" is acceptable in most contexts, more formal writing might benefit from using phrases like "to stumble upon" or "to trip over", depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "to fall over something" when the cause of the fall is not a physical object. If the fall is due to dizziness or loss of balance without an external obstacle, describe the actual cause instead of using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to fall over something" functions as a verb phrase describing an action where someone loses their balance and falls due to an obstacle. Ludwig's AI affirms the correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to fall over something" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe tripping or stumbling due to an obstacle. While Ludwig's AI confirms its usability, the phrase is relatively infrequent. In order to get a more formal tone, users could consider alternative phrases such as "to stumble upon" or "to trip over". Remember to clearly specify the object causing the fall for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to trip over something

Focuses specifically on the act of tripping, implying a sudden loss of balance due to an obstacle.

to tumble over something

Implies a more uncontrolled and clumsy fall over an object.

to take a spill over something

Informal expression for falling, emphasizing the event of the fall itself.

to stumble upon something

Suggests encountering something unexpectedly, not necessarily involving a fall, but a physical interaction.

to misstep on something

Focuses on the error in foot placement that leads to instability.

to lose balance due to something

Highlights the loss of equilibrium as a result of an external factor.

to go sprawling over something

Suggests a wide, uncoordinated fall, often with limbs extended.

to be brought down by something

Highlights the cause of the fall, suggesting an external force or obstacle.

to collapse over something

implies weakness or sudden failure to keep upright over a certain object

to founder upon something

Formal and less common, suggesting a breakdown or failure due to an obstacle.

FAQs

How can I use "to fall over something" in a sentence?

Use "to fall over something" to describe tripping or stumbling because of an object in your path. For example: "He didn't see the toy on the floor and ended up falling over something."

What's the difference between "to trip over something" and "to fall over something"?

"To trip over something" emphasizes the act of catching one's foot, while "to fall over something" focuses on the resulting loss of balance and fall. The phrase "to trip over something" is more specific about the initial action.

What can I say instead of "to fall over something"?

You can use alternatives like "to stumble upon something" or "to trip over something", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fell over something" or "fall over something"?

Both are correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Fall over something" is the present tense, while "fell over something" is the past tense. For example, "I often fall over things" vs "I fell over something yesterday".