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Workplace
Boil the ocean
Usually used negatively to warn against overreaching
Literal Meaning
To heat all the water in the ocean to the boiling point.
Actual Meaning
To attempt something impossibly ambitious or overcomplicate a task unnecessarily
Examples in Context

Director: 'We don't need to boil the ocean here.' (Translation: Keep it simple)

Helpful Tips
  • 1Warning to scale back
  • 2Focus on achievable goals
  • 3Simplicity is preferred
Phrase Thesaurus
Similar words and synonyms for this phrase
overreach
overextend
complicate
ambitious undertaking
excessive plans
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