To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed.
To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed. Used as a warning in meetings: "we don't need to boil the ocean here." The goal is always more focused than the proposal, and the phrase is the polite way to say so without killing anyone's idea outright.
"Don't try to boil the ocean — just fix the top 3 bugs."
boil the ocean means To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed. It's mostly used in workplace and corporate conversation. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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boil the ocean means To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed. It's mostly used in workplace and corporate conversation. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
"boil the ocean" is slang. It means: To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed. Register: casual. Use it in: casual conversation and online posts. Avoid in: formal writing and professional emails.
“That’s a boil the ocean solution.”
“That’s a boil the ocean solution.”
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To undertake an overwhelmingly difficult task or approach to a problem.
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