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
To attempt something so absurdly broad that it's doomed.
bɔɪl ði ˈoʊ.ʃənDocumented since 1890sSilenthistorical598 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1893 · no dated citations yet19th centurySee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
Definitions
Global
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#1·Apr 23, 2026Global
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.
See it in action
“That’s a boil the ocean solution.”
"Don't try to boil the ocean — just fix the top 3 bugs."
Origin: Modern corporate / Agile / HR vocabulary.
For parents
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.
For ESL learners
"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.
Cluster: work
Heard in the wild
“That’s a boil the ocean solution.”
“That’s a boil the ocean solution.”
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
Global
#2·May 2, 2026Global
To undertake an overwhelmingly difficult task or approach to a problem.
Cluster: work
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
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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Other words near "boil the ocean" (B)
boiled sweetboilermakerboilerplateboileyboiloverboil someone's pissboil upboi maxxingboi modeboingBoingoloidboink
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