Green’s Dictionary of Slang

break out in boils n.

In phrases

break out in boils (v.)

(Aus.) to be extremely worried, emotional.

[Aus]J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 277: ‘I was,’ said Johnny Tapp, ‘fair dinkum breaking out in boils about fronting Rosemary with that kind of kleiner news.’.