phrase
General Slang
think outside the box
THINGK-owt-syde-thuh-BOKS · phrase · informal
To think creatively beyond conventional limits.
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Definitions
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To approach a problem in an unconventional or creative way, ignoring the usual constraints.
“We need to think outside the box, the standard playbook isn't working.”
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think outside the box In A Sentence
We need to think outside the box, the standard playbook isn't working.
Origin & Usage
Linked to the nine-dot puzzle popular in management training in the 1970s-80s.
Variants
thinking outside the box
People Also Ask
What does think outside the box mean?
It means to approach a problem in an unconventional or creative way, ignoring the usual constraints.
Where does think outside the box come from?
It's linked to the nine-dot puzzle used in management training in the 1970s and 80s, which can only be solved by drawing lines beyond the implied square.
Why is think outside the box criticised?
It's become such an overused cliché in meetings that it can sound like empty jargon rather than genuine creative direction.
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