Border On for Dummies

Hey there! Today, I'm here to help you understand the meaning of the phrase "border on." So, let's dive right into it! Imagine you're taking a walk in a beautiful park, and as you stroll along the pathway, you notice a garden on your left. Now, this garden is not just any ordinary garden; it's filled with different types of flowers and plants, making it absolutely stunning and eye-catching. As you continue walking, you realize that the pathway you're on is bordering this incredible garden.

Here comes the analogy: The pathway represents a certain situation or idea, while the garden represents something that is related or connected to that situation or idea, but not the same thing. By saying that the pathway "borders on" the garden, we mean that the pathway is very close to, almost touching, or adjacent to the garden. In other words, the pathway and the garden share a boundary, and they are right next to each other.

But wait, there's more! We can also use the phrase "border on" to describe something slightly different. Picture yourself at a concert, surrounded by hundreds of people, all excitedly waiting for their favorite band to take the stage. The energy in the air is already electric, but as the opening chords of the first song start echoing through the arena, the excitement in the crowd reaches a whole new level. You may even say that their enthusiasm "borders on" hysteria.

Here's another analogy: Imagine a scale where hysteria is on one side, and excitement is on the other. By saying that the excitement "borders on" hysteria, we mean that it is very close to, almost reaching, or verging on hysteria. In this sense, we use "border on" to express the idea of being close to a particular state or emotion, without fully entering into it.

To sum it up, when we say something "borders on" another thing, it means that they are very closely related, connected, or almost touching each other. It can indicate a physical boundary, like a pathway bordering a garden, or it can express a degree of intensity or emotion, like excitement bordering on hysteria.

So, my friend, next time you come across the phrase "border on," just remember the pathway and the stunning garden, or the exhilarating concert and the heightened excitement.