h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Isn't all jargon and gibberish just a bit annoying, though? It's one thing to talk techno-babble when it *actually* means something, and something else entirely to use weird stupid phrases that no one ever understands.

Like it's ok when you work in computers and you're talking software or components you'll needc to use the technical terms that lay-people don't know. But to use daft phrases like "pushing the envelope". What's that supposed to mean anyway?

There is a lot of jargon that is gibberish, or may just be gibberish when spoken out of its original context; but some of this is atcually positive in that those who do understand it can get whole chunks of possibly complex communication done by using a commonly used jargon/analogy.

Computer programmers, used to programming loops in instruction codes, might understand 'looping back' without batting an eye. For others, it borders on gibberish.

It may be similar to my suggesting that one guy is a Robin Hood, and another is a Peter Pan. The first, one would assume, is doing good for some set of persons even though it means disadvantaging another (not necessarily through armed robbery). The second would indicate some guy that just didn't seem to want to grow up.

Not much different shorthand than calling a high-definition television set a telly, really.

Maskes you wonder what exactly the original context of "pushing the envelope" actually was. Was it someone in an envelope factory talking about new marketing??

I dunno, I'm probably wrong but I'm thinking it might be like this.

If someone pushes the envelope they are putting extra effort in.

Physically pushing their pay packet (envelope) to its limit of effort.

Going for the burn in jogging.

Pushing the envelope in the office.

possible origin

god i'm sad

(dancing maniacally)


UH UH-UH UH-UH-UH!

UH UH-UH UH-UH-UH!

UH UH-UH UH-UH-UH!

UH UH-UH UH-UH-UH!

UH UH-UH UH-UH-UH!...

sorry

Yeah, makes sense. Just a slightly odd phrase. Can't we just say "let's make a big effort here"??

Hi all:

Just thought I'd give the source of that particular phrase.
It was originally ‘pushing the outside of the envelope’ and was used by flight crews to signify a great challenge of a flight test.

You may have read it in 'The Right Stuff', by Tom Wolfe;' but it was first used in the field of mathematics.

It refers to a mathematical envelope, 'the locus of the ultimate intersections of consecutive curves' in mathematic speak.

Philology and Etymology has its uses.

So there's a genuine logical origin? That's good. Shame it's lost its meaning though.