phrase
General Slang
push the envelope
PUSH thuh EN-vuh-lohp · phrase · informal
To exceed normal limits.
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Definitions
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To go beyond conventional boundaries or test the limits of what's possible.
“This campaign really pushes the envelope on creativity.”
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push the envelope In A Sentence
This campaign really pushes the envelope on creativity.
Origin & Usage
Aviation test-pilot slang popularised by Tom Wolfe's 'The Right Stuff'.
Variants
pushing the envelope
People Also Ask
What does 'push the envelope' mean?
To go beyond the usual limits or test the boundaries of what's possible, whether in performance, creativity, or ambition.
Where does 'push the envelope' come from?
From aviation, where the 'flight envelope' is the range of speeds and conditions an aircraft can safely handle. Test pilots pushed that envelope, and the phrase was popularised by Tom Wolfe's 1979 book 'The Right Stuff'.
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