'To borrow trouble' definitions:

Definition of 'To borrow trouble'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]