Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[BMO]

1. Encroach on someone's land. This is gradually taking land from someone.

2. Police encroach on someone's property. Is this approaching someone's property stealthy or taking someone's land?

Thanks.

bmo

[cgage]

from my experiance, encroach is more of a slow or general movement, not usually used in that police context. Although it could be used like that in certain circumstances.
A better way to describe encroach:
The timber industry is encroaching on the South American rainforests.

[BMO]

Thanks a lot, and have a great weekend.

bmo

[advoca]

If something encroaches on a place, it spreads and takes over more and more of that place. It is usually used in connection with plants. I have never heard of it being used in connection with the police and cannot imagine what the author meant.
The rhododendrons encroached on the green lawn.
I turned into the dirt road and followed it through encroaching trees and bushes.

[BMO]

I made that sentence up, trying to show police approaching the property wiithout being detected. I think encroach also denotes trespassing.

Thanks.

bmo