BORDER (UP)ON SOMETHING

border (up)on something: translation

border (up)on something

1. Lit. [for something] to touch upon a boundary. (

Upon

is more formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Our property borders on the lakeshore.

•

The farm borders upon the railroad tracks.

2. Fig. [for some activity or idea] to be very similar to something else. (Not usually physical objects.

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

This notion of yours borders upon mutiny!

•

That plan borders on insanity.