fall over oneself
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be unusually enthusiastic.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Catholic families in the town were falling over themselves in their anxiety to invite the young Franciscans to come and sit in their parlors and be made much of, with cookies and soft drinks.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fall over oneself” mean?
To be unusually enthusiastic.
Is “fall over oneself” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.