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push the envelope

push the envelope

Date: May 20 2010

Themes: Fashion

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“You can’t be afraid when it comes to fashion. I like to push the envelope a little bit.”

- Actress Jennifer Lopez talks about her personal style. (Us Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

do something new and different; do something better

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

At the 2000 Grammys, Jennifer Lopez showed up in a stunning green dress whose deep V-neck went all the way down to her bellybutton. Ever since then, she has been known as a style icon who likes to push the envelope when it comes to fashion. She takes risks with her style and likes clothes that have a sexy edge.

But wait, what do envelopes have to do with style? Usually, an envelope is a container that you send letters in. But when you say someone pushes the envelope, you mean she pushes boundaries in some way. She moves beyond our expectations and challenges our commonly accepted ideas.

The expression push the envelope comes from airplane pilots. All planes have certain limitations of speed, how high they can fly, and how quickly they can change direction. These limits are known as the plane’s performance envelope. The plane’s abilities are contained within the envelope, like a letter.

Pilots who push the envelope take planes up to or even beyond their known limits, in order to find out exactly how well the planes can truly perform. In the same way, J. Lo pushes the envelope with her style, challenging the public’s ideas about how high a pair of heels can be or how low a neckline can plunge.

Do you like to push the envelope in any way, or are you more conservative?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“Eminem is probably going to push the envelope with his new album.”

“My brother is always trying to push the envelope with my parents, but sometimes he goes too far. “

“Each year, Apple releases new products that push the envelope.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

arcana The meaning is to innovate, or go beyond commonly accepted boundaries.
by arcana
_Sasha_ press the limits, be innovative.
by _Sasha_
Lubna Alyy to go further,or far
by Lubna Alyy
majid_jjs push the envelope : to try to go beyond the normal limits of something
by majid_jjs

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Comments

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princessanika

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

oh yes Jenifer Lopez,she is realy fashion about her dresses,her shoes,her hair.


she dance and her clothes for dance is fashion too.so,she is briliantWink


12:20 PM Sep 09 2012 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Hehe that's trip this expression :P But don't worry we brazilian people have many strange expressions too :P hahaha

I realize this expression has to do a little with "break rules","break limits","be original"etc…I like to be original in many things that I do,in my stuff etc…

03:25 PM Jun 26 2010 |

Moonali

Pakistan

I always ready to push the envelope for the improvement of my english and for  incresement of my sincere friends.

03:54 AM May 29 2010 |

Debby cruz

Debby cruz

Brazil

J.lo it's really niceKiss

01:03 PM May 26 2010 |

sweet bab

Pakistan

To go further,or far

06:43 AM May 26 2010 |

roc.yang

roc.yang

China

hello!~

01:26 AM May 23 2010 |

damianmxpx

damianmxpx

Argentina

you feel ready to do something new.

 

04:00 AM May 22 2010 |

mari mina

mari mina

Egypt

thanks

 

08:14 AM May 21 2010 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

wow  j.lo really nice  !!!

09:04 PM May 20 2010 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

good slang! pushing the envelope…i like doing that sometimes as well!Cool

06:54 PM May 20 2010 |

mionfabian

mionfabian

Brazil

actualy…

 I always do that…

Not with clothes… but everywhere…

:)

I am so much innovative…. tks God…     :)

06:48 PM May 20 2010 |

ahmedatas

ahmedatas

Turkey

hi it is first time ı m trying to learn a lesson..ı was attend on chat before.. anyone can help me about the lessons?  e mail me ok ?   here:   or thank you all .. have a nice days..

04:41 PM May 20 2010 |

elin_fransiska24

Indonesia

So…let's push the envelope a little bit, in every single thing that we do.. Like Englishbaby.com..they certainly have pushed the envelope in the way of learning English online. =) is it correct?

02:36 PM May 20 2010 |

gddgdhdgh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hesam Ahmady Birgani

02:34 PM May 20 2010 |

denisselena345

Peru

I'd like to push the envelope in my office. Most of my coworkers are very conservative

01:52 PM May 20 2010 |

denisselena345

Peru

I'd like to push the envelope in my office. Most of my coworkers are very conservative

01:51 PM May 20 2010 |

The sweet

The sweet

Russian Federation

I like Jenifer Lopes. She  has good style and allways looks very gorgeous. I wouldn’t dare dress or do others things to push the envelop in my common life.

11:57 AM May 20 2010 |

Moonali

Pakistan

Get more result beyond the limit

07:17 AM May 20 2010 |

Ahshan

Ahshan

China

i think i have caught it, the term push the envelope means to challenge yourself,or go far from the nomal way.surfing the fashionable stream in our reality life.

now i could compose a sentence with such phrase

l would like to push the envelope with lab science field in all my life,i want to make miracle in such loop!

04:05 AM May 20 2010 |

Zeerak

Zeerak

Australia

good one, i like pushing an envelope heheh

01:01 AM May 20 2010 |

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