Teleostomi  +  283807 Sat, 21 Oct 06 08:37 AM (1) I fell down. (2) I fell over.   When you've stumbled on something, which would you be doing? What's the difference? Teleostomi Joined on Sat, Jun 10 2006 Regular Member 557

	Nef  +  283824 Sat, 21 Oct 06 09:39 AM Both are OK on their own. But they also can be used to mean different things.  I fell over the dog. (I fell because the dog was in my way and I didn't react in time to avoid falling. I may have actually fallen on the dog.) But I fell down the dog doesn't make sense. On the other hand, I fell down the mountain is OK but I fell over the mountain seems strange. ---------------------------------------------------- (I'm used to North American English.) Nef Joined on Sun, Jan 1 2006 California, USA Regular Member 638 American English

	CalifJim  +  284425 Sun, 22 Oct 06 10:55 PM Things fall over; people don't fall over (unless they're already dead). During the earthquake, all the bookcases fell over. The children ran and jumped so roughly in the living room that one of the lamps fell over. The teacher stumbled on some books that had been left near the door and fell down. In some climates you have to be very careful in the winter.  You could slip on a patch of ice and fall down. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 24,237 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	Marius Hancu  +  284429 Sun, 22 Oct 06 11:09 PM  CalifJim wrote: ... people don't fall over (unless they're already dead). Well, things seem to be different (in BrE?) here: ------------ fall over phrasal verb If someone or something falls over, they fall to the ground or onto their side. Be careful! You're going to fall over! The fence fell over in the wind. (from Cambridge Learner's Dictionary) http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=L&key=*** Also, in Scotland: ------ fall over    Function:intransitive verb Scotland : to go to sleep http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com -------- Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Verbs, Phrasal Verbs

	Teleostomi  +  284577 Mon, 23 Oct 06 08:04 AM Things fall over; people don't fall over (unless they're already dead). CalifJim, is this really so? I'm confused! What should I make of this? You seem to be contradicting in this respect with another North American. Teleostomi

	J Lewis  +  284617 Mon, 23 Oct 06 09:53 AM  As a Brit I'd say "fall over" for someone already standing or walking on the ground: "He put his foot on a banana skin and fell over". Falling over involves falling from a standing to a lying position, rather than falling down a certain distance. Of course there is also "to fall over something", which is different. J Lewis Joined on Tue, Sep 5 2006 Italy Regular Member 518

	Teleostomi  +  284666 Mon, 23 Oct 06 01:04 PM Thanks, everyone (am I allowed without offnesing anybody to say "guys" or "folks" here?). I think I understand it now. Teleostomi

	Clive  +  285243 Wed, 25 Oct 06 01:15 AM Hi, (am I allowed without offending anybody to say "guys" or "folks" here?). Sure. These are casual but completely inoffensive terms. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 31,606 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	CalifJim  +  285294 Wed, 25 Oct 06 05:45 AM He put his foot on a banana skin and fell over. Well, I must say that sounds peculiar to me!  He slipped on a banana peel and fell down seems to me to be the AmE equivalent.  I associate falling over with inanimate objects (tall ones) teetering back and forth slowly when disturbed, then faster and in a gradually wider range of motion, then bam! they are on their side.  They've fallen over. CJ CalifJim