bring (someone or something) to a boil
1. Literally, to heat a liquid and cause it to boil. After you bring that water to a boil, we will add the pasta. I've never attempted to make jam before, so I have no idea what I'm supposed to be bringing to a boil right now. How long does it take to bring water to a boil for tea? Sheesh.
2. To cause someone to become very angry. Watch what you say to him—criticism of his novel tends to bring him to a boil. Please, stop yelling at me—I didn't mean to bring you to a boil! You guys broke Mom's antique vase? Yeah, that'll bring her to a boil all right!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bring someone to a boil
Fig. to make someone very angry. This really brought her to a boil. She was fit to be tied. Lily was really brought to a boil by the news.
bring something to a boil
to heat liquid to its boiling point; to make something boil. First, you must bring the soup to a boil.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.