The phrase “boil the ocean” is commonly used in business and project settings to describe an impossible or overcomplicated task. It can also refer to a project that has become overambitious or overly complicated. People use this phrase to express frustration about tasks or projects that have become too difficult or almost impossible to complete.

In essence, “boiling the ocean” means taking on a task or project that cannot possibly be completed and making it unnecessarily difficult. The phrase is derived from the literal concept of boiling an entire ocean, which of course is an impossible task. It is an ironic metaphor to describe an unsurmountable project.

The phrase can be used in a variety of settings and is generally intended as a negative comment. The goal should therefore be to avoid boiling the ocean when working on business projects or tasks. The key to this is having clear guidelines, knowing exactly what can and cannot be achieved within the resources provided, having frequent and honest discussions on the progress of the project, and providing sensible and reasonable boundaries to limit expansion of the task.

In conclusion, “boiling the ocean” is a phrase used to describe a task or project which has become overambitious or overly complicated and is impossible to complete. It is an ironic metaphor designed to express frustration. To avoid boiling the ocean and taking on an insurmountable task, it is important to set boundaries, know the resources available, and track the progress of the project frequently and honestly.