back-of-the-envelope

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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

back-of-the-envelope

/ˌbæk‿əv ðiː ˈɛnvələʊp/ UK
/-ˈɒnvələʊp/ UK
/-ˈɒnvləʊp/ UK
/ˌbæk‿əv ði ˈɛnvəˌloʊp/ US
/-ˈɑnvəˌloʊp/ US
/-ɛnvəˌlop/ US

Where it comes from

A reference to a calculation or an idea that occurs to one being jotted down on an available scrap of paper, such as the back of an envelope.

adjective back-of-an-envelope

idiomatic, informal Especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified. We can do some back-of-the-envelope calculations before all the facts come in.
Similar: back-of-the-fag-packet, back-of-the-napkin

Translations

Every language

adj especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified

中文	粗略的 cūlüè de
Português	à pressa, em cima do joelho
Français	à l'arrache, de coin de table, vite fait
Deutsch	Bierdeckel-, hingekritzelt, Schmierzettel-

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Cite this

MLA

"back-of-the-envelope." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/back-of-the-envelope. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

back-of-the-envelope. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/back-of-the-envelope

Chicago

"back-of-the-envelope." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/back-of-the-envelope.

BibTeX

@misc{back_of_the_envelope_2026,
  title = {back-of-the-envelope},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/back-of-the-envelope},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}