stretch the envelope

English

Verb

stretch the envelope (third-person singular simple present stretches the envelope, present participle stretching the envelope, simple past and past participle stretched the envelope)

1. Synonym of push the envelope
   • 1998, Rudolfo Chavez Chavez, James O'Donnell, Speaking the Unpleasant:

     We gratefully acknowledge the contributors whose courage and commitment to a multicultural education not only bring hope and possibility to the multicultural terrain but continue to stretch the envelope of praxis in that terrain.

   • 2006, Henry Jenkins, The Wow Climax: Tracing the Emotional Impact of Popular Culture:

     Throughout the 1980s, advanced latex special effects processes allowed directors like David Cronenberg, Brian Yuzna, and Clive Barker to stretch the envelope of onscreen surrealism with a previously impossible ease.

   • 2006, Michael H. Cohen, Mary Ruggie, Marc S. Micozzi, The Practice of Integrative Medicine, page 75:

     In a private physician's office, doctors stretch the envelope (although this can become a concern to the state medical board, since that is the only oversight).

   • 2008, David L. Rainey, Product Innovation, page 534:

     NPD programs that stretch the envelope are fraught with questions and unknowns. However, the NPD process includes mechanisms for converting unknowns and issues into reliable information and data, and resolvable situations.