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burst at the seams

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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