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Mission Creep

What Does "Mission Creep" Mean?

homeidiomsMission Creep
"Mission creep" is an English idiom. It means "the gradual broadening of the original objectives of a mission or organization."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "mission creep" used in a sentence:
  • The committee started with a simple objective, but due to mission creep, they're now handling multiple unrelated tasks.
  • Many NGOs are wary of mission creep as it can dilute their main goals.
  • The project started off focused, but mission creep led to delays and budget overruns.
meaning for mission creep

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 "Mission Creep" 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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