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spill over

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spill over

 

1. [for a container] to overflow. I hope your bucket of water doesn't spill over. The milk glass spilled over because it was filled too full.

2. [for the contents of a container] to overflow. The bucket is too full. I don't know why the water doesn't spill over. The milk spilled over because you overfilled the glass.

See also: spill

spill over

to reach or influence a larger area The fighting may spill over the border and start a wider war. Layoffs in one industry often spill over into other industries.

See also: spill