Engulf

On the one hand, opponents say a public plan option will be so popular that it will "engulf" the private insurance market -- repeatedly citing the Lewin study that we've already discussed here. ❋ Unknown (2009)

MSPs would launch a revolution that would "engulf" Scotland and put socialism back on the agenda across Europe. ❋ Unknown (2010)

As the river sweeps away our words and thoughts, our mind gets out of the way to make room for the waves of joy that will soon engulf us and take us on unfathomable spiritual journeys. ❋ PhD Bradford Keeney (2010)

By mid-day, thousands of young people had walked out of their school sanctums towards Arizona's State Capitol Building, underscoring the need to denounce the polarizing effects of a political construct that was about to engulf the lives of every Arizonan. ❋ Jorge-Mario Cabrera (2011)

When Aidan turned his head to her, shock threatened to engulf her. ❋ Kresley Cole (2011)

Richard Barnbrook, one of the British National party's most senior figures, has been expelled as part of an increasingly bitter feud threatening to engulf the far-right organisation. ❋ Dave Hill (2010)

So the flood did not engulf the whole town, but only a part. ❋ Ben Hobrink (2011)

As bond investors dumped Greece's debt in the spring and financial turmoil threatened to engulf other euro-zone nations, Mr. Trichet had grown increasingly frustrated that governments hadn't heeded his warnings over the years about the perils of excessive borrowing. ❋ Marcus Walker (2010)

But the designation was overturned by the City Council, stoking fears that condominiums would be built on the site and engulf the old warehouse. ❋ Jim Callaghan (2011)

NEW YORK—Moody's Investors Service placed Italy—the euro zone's third-largest economy—on notice Friday, warning that its sovereign rating may be imperiled by a weak economy and rising interest rates, just as Europe struggles to contend with a raging debt crisis that threatens to engulf Greece. ❋ Javier E. David (2011)

As the biggest flood in more than a century threatened to engulf the offices of Viking Fund Management in Minot, N.D., last month, Robert Walstad was kept busy making sure the firm's backup sites were ready. ❋ Suzanne McGee (2011)

But, distracted by the controversy about to engulf him, Trask forgot. ❋ Anonymous (2011)

More revelations are sure to come, a cleansing flood of leaks that threatens to engulf both the government and senior Canadian Forces figures. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Everyone will be unemployed, business will crumble, women and children will be raped in the street and the fires of hell will engulf us. ❋ Unknown (2009)

It has episodes of dewy elegance; it has an amazing smoke-belching event, during which the fire of war seems about to leap from the stage and engulf the stalls. ❋ Susannah Clapp (2010)

Violence in Syria threatens to engulf the last corner of the Middle East relatively untouched by the uprisings. ❋ Matt Bradley (2011)

In seconds the fire had gone from being something to scoff at under a table to a voracious beast ready to engulf the entire room. ❋ Margaret Peterson Haddix (2011)