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

(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, 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

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