The outer limits of an idiom. To push the envelope means to surpass normal limits or attempt something viewed as radical or risky. It comes from the aeronautical use of envelope referring to performance limits that cannot be exceeded safely.

What does it mean to say push the envelope?

The idiom “pushing the envelope” gets its very literal meaning from stuffing a mail envelope so full that it pushes and stretches outwards. Today, it means testing the boundaries of a situation.

How do you use push the envelope in a sentence?

to behave in more extreme ways, or to try new things that have not been acceptable or tried before: Just like every other kid, I pushed the envelope. If I got away with being ten minutes late one night, I might be twenty minutes late the next night. We will keep trying to push the envelope - our market demands it.