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Phrasal verbs "bubble over" vs "paper over"

Differences between bubble over and paper over

Bubble over means to overflow or spill over, usually in an emotional sense, while paper over means to conceal or hide a problem or issue temporarily.

Meanings and Definitions: bubble over vs paper over

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Bubble over

  • 1Become very excited.

    She BUBBLED OVER with joy when she heard her exam results.

Paper over

  • 1Try to conceal a problem without really fixing it.

    The government tried to PAPER OVER the problems in the proposal, but the press were very critical.

Usage Examples: bubble over, paper over in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

bubble over

Example

She bubbled over with excitement when she received the surprise gift.

Example

He bubbles over with enthusiasm when talking about his favorite hobby.

paper over

Example

They tried to paper over the cracks in their relationship.

Example

She papers over her financial problems by borrowing money from friends.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Bubble over

overflow with emotion

To express or show intense emotions that cannot be contained.

Example

When she saw her childhood friend after years, she overflowed with emotion and started crying.

let it all out

To express or release pent-up emotions or feelings.

Example

After holding back for so long, he finally let it all out and told his friend how he really felt.

burst into tears

To suddenly start crying uncontrollably.

Example

When she heard the news, she burst into tears and couldn't stop crying for hours.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Paper over

sweep under the rug

To ignore or conceal a problem or issue instead of addressing it.

Example

The company decided to sweep the issue under the rug instead of dealing with it directly.

cover up

To hide or conceal something, especially something negative or embarrassing.

Example

The politician tried to cover up his mistake by lying to the public.

put a band-aid on

To temporarily fix or address a problem without solving it completely.

Example

The manager decided to put a band-aid on the issue by offering a small discount instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “over”

Differences in bubble over vs paper over: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: bubble over or paper over?

In everyday conversation, bubble over is less common than paper over. Paper over is used more often in both formal and informal settings, especially when referring to issues or problems that need to be addressed.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of bubble over and paper over

Paper over is more formal than bubble over. It is often used in business or academic contexts to describe the act of concealing or hiding a problem. Bubble over, on the other hand, is more informal and is used in casual conversations to describe emotional outbursts or overflowing emotions.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of bubble over and paper over

The tone of bubble over is usually emotional and intense, while paper over has a more neutral and practical tone. Bubble over is often used to describe situations where someone's emotions are so strong that they can't be contained, while paper over is used to describe situations where someone is trying to temporarily hide or conceal a problem.

bubble over & paper over: Synonyms and Antonyms

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