General
boil the ocean
What does boil the ocean mean?
To attempt something impossibly large or to overcomplicate a task by trying to analyse or do everything at once. Used as a warning against scope creep.
"Let's not boil the ocean here, just scope a pilot for one region first."
Origin
Idiom implying an impossible task (you can't boil an entire ocean); popular in management consulting.
Frequently asked questions
What does boil the ocean mean?
It means to attempt something impossibly large or to overcomplicate a task by trying to do everything at once; it's usually used as a warning against overreach.
How do you use boil the ocean in a sentence?
Typically as a caution, e.g. 'Let's not boil the ocean, just start with one region,' meaning keep the scope realistic.
Where does the phrase come from?
It's an idiom about an impossible task, since you can't literally boil an entire ocean, and it's especially popular in management consulting.
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