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.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Back-of-the-envelope" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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