bordered on
Came close to
Bordered on means came close to or verged upon, typically describing something that nearly reaches an extreme state or quality: His enthusiasm bordered on obsession.
The phrase suggests approaching a boundary without quite crossing it: Her comments bordered on rudeness.
It implies the thing described shares qualities with what it borders on, just not fully.
- abuttedTouched at boundary
- flankedPositioned at both sides
- adjoinShare a common edge
- neighboredWas situated beside
- approximatingGetting close to
next door to · adjacent · verge · on the edge of · touched · contiguous · resembling · bounded · fringed · threshold · impinged · limit · proximate · encroached · nearby · margin · surrounding · skirted
border, bordered, bordering, borders, borderland, borderlands, borderline, borderless