To borrow trouble

To borrow trouble
Borrow Bor"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Borrowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Borrowing}.] [OE. borwen, AS. borgian, fr. borg, borh, pledge; akin to D. borg, G. borg; prob. fr. root of AS. beorgan to protect. ?95. See 1st {Borough}.] 1. To receive from another as a loan, with the implied or expressed intention of returning the identical article or its equivalent in kind; -- the opposite of lend. [1913 Webster]

2. (Arith.) To take (one or more) from the next higher denomination in order to add it to the next lower; -- a term of subtraction when the figure of the subtrahend is larger than the corresponding one of the minuend. [1913 Webster]

3. To copy or imitate; to adopt; as, to borrow the style, manner, or opinions of another. [1913 Webster]

Rites borrowed from the ancients. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

It is not hard for any man, who hath a Bible in his hands, to borrow good words and holy sayings in abundance; but to make them his own is a work of grace only from above. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

4. To feign or counterfeit. ``Borrowed hair.'' --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The borrowed majesty of England. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To receive; to take; to derive. [1913 Webster]

Any drop thou borrowedst from thy mother. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To borrow trouble}, to be needlessly troubled; to be overapprehensive. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • borrow trouble — {v. phr.} To worry for nothing about trouble that may not come; make trouble for yourself needlessly. * /Don t borrow trouble by worrying about next year. It s too far away./ * /You are borrowing trouble if you try to tell John what to do./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • borrow trouble — {v. phr.} To worry for nothing about trouble that may not come; make trouble for yourself needlessly. * /Don t borrow trouble by worrying about next year. It s too far away./ * /You are borrowing trouble if you try to tell John what to do./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • borrow trouble — phrasal : to take upon oneself needless trouble or anxiety if you just stick to your own job you won t be borrowing trouble * * * borrow trouble To behave in such a way as to bring trouble on oneself ● trouble * * * take needless action that may… …   Useful english dictionary

  • borrow\ trouble — v. phr. To worry for nothing about trouble that may not come; make trouble for yourself needlessly. Don t borrow trouble by worrying about next year. It s too far away. You are borrowing trouble if you try to tell John what to do. Compare: ask… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • borrow trouble — N. Amer. take needless action that may have detrimental effects. → borrow …   English new terms dictionary

  • don't borrow trouble — do not invite their trouble; we have enough trouble    When I said I was going to help my neighbor get a divorce, Pat said, Don t borrow trouble …   English idioms

  • borrow trouble — phrasal to do something unnecessarily that may result in adverse reaction or repercussions …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • borrow trouble — idi to do something unnecessary that may cause future harm or inconvenience …   From formal English to slang

  • Borrow — Bor row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Borrowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Borrowing}.] [OE. borwen, AS. borgian, fr. borg, borh, pledge; akin to D. borg, G. borg; prob. fr. root of AS. beorgan to protect. ?95. See 1st {Borough}.] 1. To receive from another as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • borrow — [bär′ō, bôr′ō] vt., vi. [ME borwen < OE borgian, to borrow, lend, be surety for, akin to beorgan, to protect & BOROUGH] 1. to take or receive (something) with the understanding that one will return it or an equivalent 2. to adopt or take over… …   English World dictionary

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