"pushing the envelope"

[Chipper]

Where does this saying come from and what does it have to do with an envelope? What does it mean too? Thank you. I hear it alot on news shows, etc. Shows with intelectual discussions.

[RonBee]

To push the envelope is to test your limits. It is to see what you can do and, perhaps, to see what you can get away with. I do not know the origin of the phrase.

:)

[Tdol]

I heard it came from the first supersonic aeroplane experiments.

[shane]

Taken from http://phrases.shu.ac.uk :


Meaning:

Go to the limits of known performance.

Origin:

Originated with aeroplane industry where the limits of a plane's performance were marked on a two-dimensional graph. The envelope is the area of the graph that indicates safe usage. In use since the late 1970s.

:D

[Chipper]

This is what I was looking for in terms of it's origin. Thanks a million. I have wondered about this for I don't know how long and was very frustrated over it. tytytytytyty! :D

Taken from http://phrases.shu.ac.uk :


Meaning:

Go to the limits of known performance.

Origin:

Originated with aeroplane industry where the limits of a plane's performance were marked on a two-dimensional graph. The envelope is the area of the graph that indicates safe usage. In use since the late 1970s.

:D

[shane]

Glad I could help. ;)

[RonBee]

This is what I was looking for in terms of it's origin.

Um, try its there.

:)

[Tdol]

Thanks, Shane- that confirms it.