burst at the seams

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burst at the seams

1. slang To be overly crowded. Because of all the delays this morning, the train station is bursting at the seams. Good luck finding a place to sit!

2. slang To try to contain a strong feeling or impulse. When I saw your text, I practically burst at the seams trying not to laugh at it in the middle of the theater.

See also: burst, seam

burst at the seams

1. Fig. to be very full and burst, perhaps at the seams. (Alludes to something that would burst at the seams if overfilled.) I am so full from dinner! I'm ready to burst at the seams. The room was so full it was bursting at the seams.

2. Fig. [for someone] to strain from holding in pride or laughter as if one might burst. Tom nearly burst at the seams with pride. We laughed so hard we just about burst at the seams.

See also: burst, seam

burst at the seams

Be filled to or beyond normal capacity. For example, On her wedding day the church was bursting at the seams, or That was a wonderful meal, but I'm bursting at the seams. This expression alludes to rupturing the seams of a garment too tight for the wearer and is generally used hyperbolically. Also see come apart at the seams.

See also: burst, seam

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bursting (or bulging) at the seams

(of a place or building) full to overflowing. informal

See also: burst, seam

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive ?

On Friday, he made a few joking remarks at Fox News' expense on Twitter, and later in the day released a full statement calling the channel "a media colonoscopy bag that has begun to burst at the seams," among other such expressions.A

"I'll just say this: in my opinion F*x News is a last resort for kinda-sorta-almost-journalists whose options have been severely limited by their extreme and intolerant views; a media colostomy bag that has begun to burst at the seams and should be emptied before it becomes a public health issue.

Jim Carrey Vs. Fox News, 'A Giant Culture Fart'

JOB centres are being reorganised as they burst at the seams because of soaring unemployment.

Job centres are coping as they burst at the seams

Pub car parks will burst at the seams and despite non-alcoholic drinks, it is fair to assume some cars will leave with over-the-limit drivers at the wheel.

Please don't drink and then drive

The sizzling economy is causing many small businesses to burst at the seams. These successful firms are looking for reasonably-priced opportunities for expansion.