back-of-the-envelope

English

Etymology

From the idea that the calculation or reasoning would be jotted down on any available scrap of paper such as the actual back of an envelope.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

back-of-the-envelope

1. (idiomatic) Approximate, rough, simplified, especially of a calculation, estimation or other reasoning.

   Do some back-of-the-envelope calculations before all the facts come in.

   • 2010 April 30, David G. Thomson, Mastering the 7 Essentials of High-Growth Companies‎^[1], John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:

     I remember very distinctly in October 1995, after I completed my paper design, I had an epiphany. This back-of-the-envelope design was five years ahead of its time.

Alternative forms

• back-of-an-envelope

Translations

Translations

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 粗略的 (cūlüè de)

• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: ruutupaperi-
• French: dos d’une enveloppe, de coin de table (fr), à l’arrache (fr), vite fait (fr)
• German: hingekritzelt (de), Schmierzettel- (de), Bierdeckel- (de)
• Portuguese: à pressa, em cima do joelho (colloquial)
• Russian: please add this translation if you can

See also

• napkin math

See also

• (back of a) fag packet (Br) and back-of-a-cigarette-box