bowl (redirected from Bowles)

bowl someone over 

1. Lit. to knock someone over. (Fixed order.) We were bowled over by the wind. Bob hit his brother and bowled him over.

2. Fig. to surprise or overwhelm someone. (Fixed order.) The news bowled me over. The details of the proposed project bowled everyone over.

bowl up

to fill a pipe bowl with smokable material. The detective bowled up and struck a match. Roger bowled up, but forgot to light his pipe.

See also: up

Life is just a bowl of cherries.

Prov. Everything is going well.; Life is carefree. (Often used ironically, as in the second example.) The real estate salesman tried to convince us that life in the suburbs is just a bowl of cherries. Jill: Hi, Jane. How are you? Jane: Oh, my alarm clock didn't go off this morning, and then my car wouldn't start, and I missed the bus and got to work late, and I just found out my rent's going up fifty dollars a month. Life is just a bowl of cherries.

See also: cherry, just, life

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Life is just a bowl of cherries.

something that you say which means that life is very pleasant

Usage notes: This phrase is sometimes used humorously to mean the opposite

The hotel is wonderful and the weather too. Life's just a bowl of cherries. So as well as cleaning up the apartment and getting the paperwork done, I have three children to look after. Yes, life's just a bowl of cherries!

See also: cherry, just, life

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bowl somebody over also bowl over somebody

1. to cause someone to fall by hitting them with your body Reagan burst through the door, practically bowling over Jeanne.

2. to completely surprise someone I was totally bowled over by the beautiful gift from the office staff. The party completely bowled him over.

Etymology: based on the game of bowling, in which a ball is rolled toward a group of wooden objects with the intention of making them fall