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.

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, sur un coin de table (fr), à l'arrache (fr), vite fait (fr)
German: please add this translation if you can
Portuguese: please add this translation if you can
Russian: please add this translation if you can

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