to border on obsession
1
7.7
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
lindar con la obsesión
- The artist's focus on perfection bordered on obsession, leaving little time for anything else.
Examples
-
His attention to detail bordered on obsession, impressing everyone in the room.
-
His dedication to perfecting his craft bordered on obsession, often keeping him awake at night.
-
She has a passion for gardening that borders on obsession.
-
His love for video games borders on obsession.
-
She bordered on obsession with her fitness routine.
-
Gabe Sugar approaches yoga with an enthusiasm that borders on obsession.
-
Some critics argue that her commitment to the project borders on obsession, which affects her relationships.
Synonyms
304
5.5
To think about something so much that it makes you worried
70
6.3
To take all of someone's attention so they cannot think of other things
26
6.0
Think too much about something so you feel unhappy
Antonyms
How Interested
- Informal
1
7.7
245
4.8
- Archaic
175
2.7
85
2.3
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is compositionally transparent: 'border' (to lie next to) + 'on' (indicating adjacency) + 'obsession' yields the sense of being adjacent to or very close to obsession — i.e. almost an obsession. This metaphor of proximity is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can reasonably infer the meaning.
Etymology
Border on obsession uses the simple image of a border, a line that divides two things, so an interest that sits right on that line next to obsession is almost an unhealthy, too-strong feeling. That's why it means 'to be so enthusiastic or interested that it is almost unhealthy'.