boil the ocean
Meaning
To try to do an impossible or overly ambitious task, especially by attempting to solve everything at once instead of focusing on what’s feasible.
Origin
A hyperbolic metaphor: boiling the entire ocean is absurdly impossible, so the phrase came to mean taking on a vast, unrealistic scope instead of tackling a manageable part. Popular in business/tech talk.
Notes
Usually critical: implies unrealistic scope and wasted effort. Common in business/tech to urge prioritization and focus on a feasible subset rather than solving everything at once.
Examples
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Let’s not boil the ocean—just fix the checkout bug before the release.
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Her proposal tries to boil the ocean by redesigning every process at once.
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If we boil the ocean, we’ll miss our deadline and burn out the team.
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The new manager is boiling the ocean instead of prioritizing the top three issues.
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To avoid boiling the ocean, start with a small pilot and measure the results.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase: typically used as “boil the ocean,” often after “try to/attempt to/don’t.” Can inflect: “boiling the ocean,” “boiled the ocean.” Usually takes an implied or stated project scope.
Synonyms
- bite off more than you can chew
- aim too high
- overreach
- try to do everything at once
- take on too much
Antonyms
- focus on the essentials
- keep it simple
- narrow the scope
- prioritize
- take it one step at a time