What Does “Drool over sb” Mean?
“Drool over sb” means to look at someone with great admiration or attraction, often showing strong interest or desire.
Introduction
The phrase “drool over sb” is a common English expression used to describe when someone is visibly attracted to or admiring another person. It often suggests an intense or obvious interest, sometimes in a playful or exaggerated way. The “sb” in the phrase stands for “somebody,” meaning it refers to a person. Understanding the drool over sb meaning helps learners express feelings of admiration or attraction in informal conversations. This phrase is often used in casual speech and writing, especially when talking about crushes, celebrities, or anyone who catches someone’s eye.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: drool over somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to admire or desire someone strongly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Drool over sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot separate “drool” and “over” with an object. The structure is always:
- drool over + somebody (object)
Examples:
- She drools over her favorite actor.
- They often drool over celebrities in magazines.
How to Use “Drool over sb”?
This phrase is used when talking about someone who is admiring or attracted to another person. It often has a playful or slightly exaggerated tone. You can use it in casual conversations, stories, or descriptions to show strong interest or attraction. It is commonly used with famous people, crushes, or even friends.
Examples
Imagine you see your friend looking at a handsome actor in a movie. You could say:
- She is drooling over the actor in the new film.
- He drools over his crush every time she walks into the room.
- Fans drool over the singer’s latest photos on social media.
- My brother drools over sports stars whenever they appear on TV.
- People often drool over models in fashion magazines.
These sentences show how “drool over sb” describes admiration or attraction clearly.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the structure or use the phrase in the wrong context. For example:
- Incorrect: She drools the actor over.
- Correct: She drools over the actor.
- Incorrect: I drool over to her.
- Correct: I drool over her.
Remember, “drool over” must be followed directly by the person or thing admired. Also, it is not used to describe actual drooling or physical saliva.
Differences / Synonyms
There are similar phrases like “fawn over sb” or “gawk at sb,” but they have different meanings. “Fawn over sb” means to give someone excessive praise or attention, often to please them. “Gawk at sb” means to stare openly, sometimes rudely.
“Drool over sb” focuses on admiration or attraction, not necessarily praise or rude staring.
Common Collocations
The phrase often pairs with words related to people admired or desired. Common collocations include:
- Celebrity – fans drool over celebrities.
- Crush – teenagers drool over their crushes.
- Actor/Actress – people drool over actors in movies.
- Model – fashion lovers drool over models.
- Singer – music fans drool over singers.
These collocations show typical objects that “drool over” is used with.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of drool over sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “drool over sb”:
Anna: Did you see the new movie?
Ben: Yes! I can’t stop drooling over the lead actor. He’s so handsome.
Anna: Me too! Everyone seems to drool over him these days.
Practice
Complete the sentences with “drool over”:
- My sister always __________ famous singers on TV.
- They __________ the new model in the magazine.
- He can’t help but __________ his crush whenever she smiles.
Answers: drools over, drool over, drool over
FAQs
- Q: Is “drool over sb” formal?
A: No, it is informal and used mostly in casual speech.
- Q: Can I use “drool over” with things?
A: Yes, but it is most common with people.
- Q: Does “drool over” mean actual drooling?
A: No, it means strong admiration, not literal saliva.
- Q: Is “drool over” separable?
A: No, you cannot separate “drool” and “over” with the object.
- Q: What level is “drool over sb”?
A: It is suitable for B2 (Upper-Intermediate) learners.
