trip over oneself
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Make an extreme effort to do something.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Tripping over myself. Aching, begging you to come help. And now that I'm without your kisses, I'll be needing stitches.
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 “trip over oneself” mean?
Make an extreme effort to do something.
Is “trip over oneself” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.