trip over themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trip over themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe someone making a mistake or causing an issue because of their own actions. For example: "The actors tripped over themselves trying to remember their lines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

There is, of course, the danger that too many groups with too many good intentions will trip over themselves as they work on empowering the same women at the same time.

Forbes

When he was with his mother, people "would trip over themselves" to be helpful.

The New York Times

There were plenty who would trip over themselves for the chance.

The New York Times

Expect the tax preparers — those with storefronts and tax software — to trip over themselves to lure you in.

The New York Times

Interest rates are near historic lows, and banks will trip over themselves to lend to big multinationals sitting on mountains of cash.

The New York Times

"Expect more Senate Democrats to trip over themselves in an effort follow Gillibrand's swing to the radical left," said the Republican National Committee.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

International brands tripped over themselves to congratulate the LGBT community.

The Guardian

Some 29 banks tripped over themselves to offer it a $1 billion loan in October.

The Economist

Despite these faux pas, countries are practically tripping over themselves to attract Chinese tourists.

The New York Times

Briefers tripped over themselves to declare there is no political significance, left-right, or Blair-Brown.

The Guardian - Opinion

You still have lenders tripping over themselves, throwing money at households.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trip over themselves" to vividly describe situations where eagerness or intense competition leads to errors or missteps. For example, "Companies tripped over themselves to secure the new contract, resulting in poorly planned bids."

Common error

Avoid using "trip over themselves" in purely physical contexts. The idiom implies a figurative stumbling due to eagerness or competition, not a literal fall.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic expression "trip over themselves" functions as a verbal phrase used to describe someone or a group acting in a hurried, clumsy, or overly eager manner, often in a competitive context. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

4%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trip over themselves" is a common idiomatic expression used to describe situations where someone is so eager that they make mistakes. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. It is mostly used in a neutral register but can be seen as informal depending on the context. When aiming for formal language it's better to use synonyms like "be overly eager" or "compete intensely". However, its vivid imagery provides a concise way to convey both enthusiasm and potential error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall over themselves

Almost identical in meaning, implies a lack of control and eagerness.

stumble over each other

Similar to the original but emphasizes physical stumbling or lack of coordination.

bend over backwards

Implies great effort and eagerness to please, differing from the mistake aspect of the original phrase.

go out of their way

Highlights the willingness to do something, but lacks the potential for error.

jump through hoops

Focuses on completing a series of actions, often difficult, to achieve a goal.

be overly eager

Highlights the excessive enthusiasm, but doesn't necessarily imply mistakes or problems.

make a blunder

Emphasizes the making a mistake part, but without the rush or eagerness implied in the original phrase.

vie competitively

Focuses on the competitive aspect, where individuals are trying hard to outdo each other.

rush headlong

Highlights the speed and potential for recklessness, without necessarily implying a mistake.

compete intensely

Highlights the competitive nature of the situation.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone is "tripping over themselves"?

It means they are so eager to do something or achieve a goal that they make mistakes or act clumsily in the process. It often implies a sense of intense competition or urgency.

How can I use "trip over themselves" in a sentence?

You can say, "The companies "fell over themselves" to get the celebrity endorsement." or "The politicians tripped over themselves promising tax cuts before the election."

Is it appropriate to use "trip over themselves" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "trip over themselves" is somewhat informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "be overly eager" or "compete intensely" to maintain a more professional tone.

What are some similar expressions to "trip over themselves"?

Similar expressions include "bend over backwards", "go out of their way", or "fall over themselves". The best choice depends on the specific context you want to convey.