Brutally Honest Translation
Do less than you think, choose wisely, and don't expect me to define the boundary.
Jargon
“Let's not boil the ocean”
Scope down, but decide for yourself what to cut, and take the blame if the trimmed version was not what was wanted.
How it gets used
Used at the start of a piece of work to signal that resources are limited. Rarely accompanied by guidance on what to drop.
Three ways to answer “Let's not boil the ocean”
Supreme Court Polite
We should focus on a manageable scope that delivers clear value within our constraints.
Passive-Aggressive Retaliation
Agreed. I'll propose the reduced scope in writing so we all sign off on what's being left out.
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