on the boil
idiom
1
British, informal
: in a state of activity or development
The deal is still on the boil.
kept their romance on the boil
2
: on a hot burner/stove so that a liquid would boil
She put the kettle (of water) on the boil.
Examples of on the boil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Steps have been taken to involve its players — some quite altered — more closely, even heroically, in big political events; to keep the drama on the boil; and to strike a more inspirational note at the finale than does the novel.
—
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023
Keeping the turbo on the boil means keeping the revs up, and that translates into a ton of engine noise—all of it the wrong kind.
—Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 12 Apr. 2023
The cost of perpetuating that world is an atmosphere clogged with greenhouse gases and weather on the boil.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
Other factors, such as wage increases, could keep inflation on the boil.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2022
Food prices in India have been on the boil this year due to supply constraints.
—Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 11 July 2022
Soaring prices of everything from gasoline to essential medicines have kept protests on the boil in Sri Lanka, which is close to bankruptcy and has suspended payments on foreign debt.
—Time, 10 May 2022
That was in 1968, during a decade when racial politics was perpetually on the boil in the United States, and Kamoinge was right there for it.
—New York Times, 13 Jan. 2021
Keep the ride-by-wire kettle on the boil, 3,000-5,000 revs and stir the 5-speed gear box as needed.
—Joe Michaud, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2020
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023
Keeping the turbo on the boil means keeping the revs up, and that translates into a ton of engine noise—all of it the wrong kind.
—Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 12 Apr. 2023
The cost of perpetuating that world is an atmosphere clogged with greenhouse gases and weather on the boil.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
Other factors, such as wage increases, could keep inflation on the boil.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2022
Food prices in India have been on the boil this year due to supply constraints.
—Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 11 July 2022
Soaring prices of everything from gasoline to essential medicines have kept protests on the boil in Sri Lanka, which is close to bankruptcy and has suspended payments on foreign debt.
—Time, 10 May 2022
That was in 1968, during a decade when racial politics was perpetually on the boil in the United States, and Kamoinge was right there for it.
—New York Times, 13 Jan. 2021
Keep the ride-by-wire kettle on the boil, 3,000-5,000 revs and stir the 5-speed gear box as needed.
—Joe Michaud, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on the boil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on the boil
Cite this Entry
“On the boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20boil. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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