mhatter

Yeah - I know... not the most intense or contemporary of questions - but we are all getting a bit serious with the economy and gas prices and George's War.... Nothing like a bit of occasional frosting.

Unlike sayings such as "Too many cooks spoil the stew" or "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" - sayings which paint a specific mental image that speaks volumes - this particular saying, "Pushing the envelope", paints no such specific picture... All sorts of questions arise. Am I using my finger to push this envelope? My Nose? A ten foot pole? And is it being pushed along a tabletop? A ping pong table? A six lane highway? And what sort of envelope? Is it a legal envelope with one of those little cellophane windows? A delicately scented, pastel lavender envelope with elegant handwriting? An interoffice memo envelope? And after answering all these questions... WHY THE BLOODY HELL DOES IT MEAN WHAT IT MEANS???? Expanding technologies further then we think they can go simply does not bring to mind an envelope being pushed. Thank you very much.