Idiom idiom
think outside the box
Meaning
To think creatively and develop new and original ideas.
Examples
“You need to think outside the box to solve this puzzle.”
“The manager encouraged the team to think outside the box to find a way to save money without cutting staff.”
“While traditional methods have failed to address the housing crisis, some architects are thinking outside the box by repurposing old shipping containers into modern apartments.”
Last updated July 14, 2026