border

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border (up)on (something)

1. Literally, to be positioned next to something. France borders upon Spain to the south. That shed definitely borders on our property.
2. To share similarities with something without being identical to it. Be careful, some sections of this paper are bordering on plagiarism.
See also: border

work both sides of the street

1. Literally, to occupy positions on both sides of a single street in order to sell something to people walking on either side. Our sales were doing OK, but it wasn't until I hired a second food truck and started working both sides of the street that things really took off.
2. To aid, support, or engage with both sides of some issue, situation, agenda, competition, etc. Usually used with the implication of doing so in a duplicitous manner to benefit one's own interests or agenda, though not always. She was accused of working both sides of the street, acting as a legal adviser for groups trying to legalize recreational cannabis while also serving on the board of several organizations that have tried to quash actions. Look, I've been working both sides of the street in Washington for years, negotiating the rather volatile divide between corporate and political interests very carefully.
See also: both, of, side, street, work

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.
See also: border, on

work both sides of the street

Engage in doubledealing, be duplicitous, as in The real estate agent was known for working both sides of the street, advising first the buyer and then the seller . This metaphoric term transfers opposite sides of a street to opposite sides of a negotiation.
See also: both, of, side, street, work

border on

or border upon
v.
1. To be next to something in location: New York State borders on Lake Ontario. My property borders upon a small lake.
2. To come close to being something, especially in association, meaning, or intent; verge on something: Your harsh criticism borders on being offensive. Some of their jokes were funny, but others bordered upon the ridiculous!
See also: border, on

work both sides of the street

To engage in double-dealing; be duplicitous.
See also: both, of, side, street, work
References in periodicals archive ?
Working through the leadership of its two "mainstream" political outlets, the bipartisan Establishment has defined the party line on immigration: the effective collapse of our border with Mexico has created a social, political, and economic crisis that can only be solved by eradicating the border altogether.
A posse of pretenders: have America's political leaders contracted a case of common sense regarding immigration--or is something else at work?
Case in point: on January 17, 2007, former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean surrendered to U.
Punished for doing their job: as two Border Patrol agents languish in prison, the Department of Homeland Security is doing its best not to answer charges of wrongful, politically motivated prosecution
The governor's decision comes more than two weeks after Bush asked four border states to deploy 6,000 Guard troops to help agents.
GUARD TO HEAD FOR BORDER DUTY ARNOLD `RELUCTANTLY' BOWS TO BUSH
While mainstream media outlets and local public officials portray these groups as fringe elements, vigilantes and Border Patrol agents occupy essentially the same piece of a violent border society.
Borderland security: vigilantes are far from the fringe in Arizona. Instead, organizers say, ranchers and border agents mirror a violent border society where racial profiling abounds and prosecution of abuse is rare
According to Suk, the NIEHS already funds several projects on topics applicable to border health problems, which may be enfolded into the BRIDGE Program.
Bridging the Gap in Border Health
Mexico border, as even the book's logo, which traces the distinctive "line" of the border from San Diego to Brownsville, would have the reader believe.
Twilight on the Line: Underworlds and Politics at the U.S.-Mexico Border
President George Bush and his allies in Congress claim that the SPP will secure our borders, help stop terrorism, and make all of North America more prosperous.
GOP deeds under a microscope: by failing to oppose the dangerous policies of the Bush administration, much of the GOP leadership has proven that their talk about border security is nothing but rhetoric
By securing the borders, Bush has taken the critical first step toward fixing America's badly broken immigration system.
EDITORIAL BORDER CONTROL BUSH TAKES CRITICAL FIRST STEP TOWARD FIXING AMERICA'S IMMIGRATION POLICY
TNA: You have coauthored a book about our porous borders with Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist.
Expert analysis of the NAU: Dr. Jerome Corsi shares his in-depth knowledge of the effort to create one political entity out of the United States, Canada, and Mexico
National Alliance fliers designed to coincide with the event were circulated in numerous communities along the Arizona border.
EXTREMISTS AT BORDER MINUTEMAN PROJECT ABOUT MORE THAN ENFORCING POLICY
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