How do you say “Push the envelope” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is repousser les limites, which literally means “to push back the limits”. English speakers use push the envelope to mean to go beyond the usual limits of what is done or considered possible. A close fit for creative, technical or physical achievement. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
repousser les limites
/ʁəpuse le limit/
- Literal meaning
- “to push back the limits”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
97 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
French uses a clear image of moving a boundary. It works for artists trying a new approach and athletes attempting something harder.
You can name the boundary—“les limites de la technologie”—if it helps. There is no need to keep the English word “envelope.”
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
This new design pushes the envelope.
French
Cette nouvelle création repousse les limites.
English
The dancers pushed the envelope with that performance.
French
Les danseurs ont repoussé les limites avec ce spectacle.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-19