outside the box
Americanidiom
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in an unconventional or original and resourceful way; in a way that defies usual limits.
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unconventional; original and resourceful.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 32-year-old has played 362 Premier League games in total, keeping 98 clean sheets and saving almost 70% of the shots he has faced - including 86% from outside the box.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
He was so good, especially in the second game we played against PSG, in Paris, when he scored two goals from outside the box.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
New Zealand earned a free kick in the 45th minute just outside the box.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Let’s think outside the box on the Iran nuclear issue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
After all, they can’t be outside the box; we know that they are restricted to a certain volume, because if they were outside the box, we would not be looking at them.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
