Archived discussion & diagram
Posted by R. Berg on September 26, 2002
In Reply to: thinking outside the box posted by Robin on September 26, 2002
: In Reply to: Out of the Box posted by Ned Ramano on December 26, 2000
: : Maybe I missed it in the archives, but I could not find an explanation for the phrase "Out of the box"? Was it created by a cruel busness person or is there a better explanation?
: : Thanks, Ned
: There a fairly new business cliche in the U.S. -- "thinking outside the box," meaning thinking beyond usual ways of doing things. I'm sure someone else will have more details. All I know is the phrase comes up at every business meeting/seminar I've attended in the past couple of years.
: "thinking outside the box" also refers to following
: a path
of logic other than the commonly accepted
: one; i.e. a refuted theorum or
mathematical given,
:
: "out of the box" has three meanings:
: 1. A
brand new, unused item,
: 2. a race that has begun,
: 3. a release from
severe confinement.
: (box = solitary.)
A n archive search using "outside" produced a previous discussion involving an old nine-dot puzzle that tests creativity: www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 7 messages 354.html (or use link below).