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Back-of-the-envelope

What Does "Back-of-the-envelope" Mean?

"Back-of-the-envelope" is an English idiom. It means "a rough calculation or initial estimate, often done quickly without detailed analysis."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "back-of-the-envelope" used in a sentence:

• He gave me a back-of-the-envelope estimate for the project costs.
• While it's a back-of-the-envelope calculation, I think it gives us a good starting point.
• We need more than a back-of-the-envelope guess before we proceed.

A Quick Test

You now know what "back-of-the-envelope" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions