push the envelope
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To approach, extend, or go beyond the limits of what is possible; to pioneer.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Tiếp cận, mở rộng hoặc đi vượt quá giới hạn của điều gì là có thể; để đi tiên phong.
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review. Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “push the envelope” mean?
To approach, extend, or go beyond the limits of what is possible; to pioneer.
Is “push the envelope” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.