Pushing the envelope

[MontyVeda]

"Pushing the Envelope"

What does this saying mean? I kind of get it... but on 2nd thoughts... i don't.

 

[Trembler49]

I could give some sort of jokey bullshit response but, in business it usually means using unconventional or even daring techniques to solve a problem, for example, if a customer does not want to pay the asking price for something, link the price to increased profits or reducing costs, e.g. the asking price is 100k, if we reduce costs by 200k, you pay us 150k.

The "envelope" represents standard practice, e.g. the price is 100k, take it or leave it.

 

[Arch]

Well, and envelope contains something, doesn't it, keeps it in. It's a sort of boundary. Pushing it is pushing at the boundary - usually the boundary of an idea. Going just a bit further than the normal 'edge'.

It's a bit managementy, I agree, but I get the principle. Normal people might say 'stretching the limits' or something.

 

[buggi]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/push-the-envelope.html

 

[531c]

It comes from aeronautics. Aircraft are designed to fly within a certain set of limits; altitude, speed, g-force, structural load etc. When plotted on a graph these limits are shown as a set of boundaries. The boundary is the so called flight envelope.

When a pilot is flying near the boundary (e.g close to the maximum allowed speed/g-force) he is said to be "pushing the envelope".

 

[Night Train]

http://www.phrases.o...e-envelope.html

I understood it as in that explanation of the flight envelope. Pushing to the very limits to see what happens and, hopefully, extending the envelope.
Never really considered it in management speak as I've no time for blue sky thinking, too busy thinking, and working, outside the box.

 

[Arch]

I understood it as in that explanation of the flight envelope. Pushing to the very limits to see what happens and, hopefully, extending the envelope.
Never really considered it in management speak as I've no time for blue sky thinking, too busy thinking, and working, outside the box.

And you make the box to start with!

I often push the envelope, at work. It's usually in a huge sack along with a lot of other paper, and I push it on a trolley to the skip.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I understood it as in that explanation of the flight envelope. Pushing to the very limits to see what happens and, hopefully, extending the envelope.
Never really considered it in management speak as I've no time for blue sky thinking, too busy thinking, and working, outside the box.

If I wanted to express the idea of original thought, should I use a hand-me-down cliché to express it? Or am I just contemplating out of the tea chest?

 

[GrasB]

I often push the envelope, at work. It's usually in a huge sack along with a lot of other paper, and I push it on a trolley to the skip.

 

[Over The Hill]

I understood it as in that explanation of the flight envelope. Pushing to the very limits to see what happens and, hopefully, extending the envelope.
Never really considered it in management speak as I've no time for blue sky thinking, too busy thinking, and working, outside the box.

So now do you have all your ducks in a row?

 

[Piemaster]

So now do you have all your ducks in a row?

Looks more like a Campagnalo solution to a Shimano problem to me

 

[BrumJim]

So now do you have all your ducks in a row?

I have decided to invent the phrase "Ducks Meeting" This is a meeting just before a very important deadline to make sure that a team, or group of representatives from different companies, are all in agreement as to what the outstanding actions are, i.e. getting our ducks in a row.

Please can you ensure that the term "Ducks Meeting" is more widely used.

I've got one on Tuesday at 9:00.

 

[Adasta]

I have decided to invent the phrase "Ducks Meeting" This is a meeting just before a very important deadline to make sure that a team, or group of representatives from different companies, are all in agreement as to what the outstanding actions are, i.e. getting our ducks in a row.

Please can you ensure that the term "Ducks Meeting" is more widely used.

I've got one on Tuesday at 9:00.

Sorry mate, but that's sounds totally quack.

...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Sorry mate, but that's sounds totally quack.

...

Agreed, what'll be topping the bill I wonder?

 

[Fnaar]

Before computers, people used to push envelopes around on their desks, dreaming some vague dream about a medium for 'talking' to other people about cycling. And three word games.