culbuter

Senses

1. 1.

   to tumble; to somersault

   to roll end-over-end or perform an acrobatic flip

2. 2.

   to overturn; to capsize

   to tip over or turn upside down

3. 3.

   to knock over; to cause to fall

   to push or make something fall down

4. 4.

   to topple (figuratively)

   to bring down or cause the downfall of a government or regime

Examples

• "L'enfant a culbuté dans la cour."

  The child tumbled over in the yard.

• "La barque a culbuté dans la tempête."

  The boat capsized in the storm.

• "Le régime a culbuté après une révolte populaire."

  The regime was toppled after a popular uprising.

Usage

Culbuter is a common verb in French with both literal and figurative uses. The literal sense (tumbling, overturning) is more frequent in everyday speech, while the political sense (toppling a government) is more formal. Can be used transitively (with an object) or intransitively.