burst on

burst (up)on (one)

To occur to one suddenly. After that idea burst upon me, I was able to alter the experiment and finally achieve some success. Once I pulled up to the bank, it burst upon me that I had forgotten my wallet. Come on, you can't just sit around waiting for a breakthrough to burst upon you. Get back to work!

See also: burst

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

burst (up)on someone

Fig. [for an idea] to strike someone suddenly. (As if an idea had burst forth. Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) After thinking all morning long, this really tremendous idea burst upon me. It burst on me like a bolt of lightning.

See also: burst, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.