words of one syllable dept. revisited
Mark Mandel
thnidu at GMAIL.COM
Tue Sep 2 19:15:53 UTC 2008
If taken analogously to "push the envelope" (originally "push the outside of
the envelope"?) -- meaning "try to extend the range of the possible" -- it
would mean something like 'move the status quo forward, keep up with the
times'. Metaphorically I envision pushing the envelope as something like
being inside a comic-strip speech balloon and pushing on the side to enlarge
it.
m a m
On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 11:47 AM, Marc Velasco <marcjvelasco at gmail.com>wrote:
> I think that he said what he meant.
>
> > "Sen. McCain has always pushed the status quo and I believe Gov.
> > Palin will do the same."
> >
>
> Presumably, he meant 'pushed (in a direction)' rather than 'promoted (as in
> drug use)'.
>
> The status quo in politics is often more of the same; to push it (towards
> something) might entail pushing against those who want to protect the
> status
> quo and all the pocket lining that goes with it. Perhaps.
>
>
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