[meet] trouble halfway
1
to have a tendency to become worried over something that has not yet happened
The origin of the meaning of "meet trouble halfway" can be traced back to times when communities had to rely on themselves. Those who focused too much on imagining troubles before knowing if they would truly occur were seen as "meeting trouble halfway." Over time, as communities needed a balance of preparation and staying focused on real issues, this phrase came to describe people with a tendency to anxiously anticipate difficulties before determining if they are really a threat.
- Sarah tends to meet trouble halfway by constantly worrying about worst-case scenarios that may never happen.
- Mark met trouble halfway last week when he panicked over a minor work issue that never materialized.
- At this rate, Brad will continue meeting trouble halfway by imagining all sorts of problems before any arise.
- Jane is meeting trouble halfway right now as she stresses over potential fallout from a situation that has yet to play out.
- By the time the big presentation rolled around, Alan had already met trouble halfway so many times that he was exhausted from unnecessary worrying.
2
to confront a problem or difficulty as soon as it arises, rather than trying to avoid it or wait for it to resolve itself
- The company is facing financial difficulties, so we need to meet trouble halfway and start cutting costs now.
- I know you're worried about the project deadline, but let's meet trouble halfway and work some extra hours to get it done on time.