bring (someone or something) to a boil
1. Literally, to heat a liquid and cause it to boil. After you bring that water to a boil, we will add the pasta.
2. To cause someone to become very angry. Watch what you say to him—criticism of his novel tends to bring him to a boil. Please, stop yelling at me—I didn't mean to bring you to a boil!
bring someone to a boil
Fig. to make someone very angry. This really brought her to a boil. She was fit to be tied. Lily was really brought to a boil by the news.
bring something to a boil
to heat liquid to its boiling point; to make something boil. First, you must bring the soup to a boil.