border on
To be almost like something, or very nearly something — especially something extreme or negative.
Meanings
(Figurative) To come very close to a particular quality or state, especially an extreme one.
"His confidence in his own abilities borders on arrogance, to be honest."
"The situation in the camps borders on the catastrophic."
— The Guardian, reported in various humanitarian crisis coverage (widely attested)
(Literal) Of a place, to share a physical boundary or border with another place.
"The province borders on three different countries, making it a vital trade hub."
Used in both literal and figurative senses. The literal sense (one country bordering on another) is transparent and not truly a phrasal verb. The common figurative sense — coming close to a quality or extreme — is the more notable usage. Often used with negative or extreme qualities: arrogance, madness, cruelty, genius, obsession.
Commonly used with
Forms
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