Boiling the ocean is an idiomatic phrase that can have a few related meanings. One is that it is obviously impossible to boil the ocean. Where would you start? Thus boiling the ocean can refer to an impossible task — something so complicated it’s hard to know where to begin.

Another definition of the boiling the ocean is used in business and tends to relate to projects that are hugely complex, perhaps overly so. The idea of boiling the whole ocean means that you are concerned with a minutia of fine details. This may mean that you’re being thorough or it could mean that you have made something so complex you can never accomplish your goals.

There are few potential origins of this phrase. One is typically credited to Will Rogers. When asked how the US should handle the problem of German U-boats, during World War I, Rogers recommended that the ocean be boiled. A reporter asking the question supposedly followed up by inquiring how this could be done. To which Rogers replied: “I’m just the idea man.” Others attribute the phrase to Mark Twain.

Some people, when they have ideas, may be warned not to boil the ocean, which makes a good deal of sense. It can be applied to lots of situations in business and personal life. If you have something you want to accomplish, you may be able to reduce the steps it takes to accomplish it. On the other hand, if you keep adding on extra details and trying to “cover all your bases,” you may be accused of boiling the ocean. It’s also possible that if you do too much or plan for too many contingencies, you can never see your idea or concept come to fruition.

However there are many incredibly complex situations that require tons of thought, planning, and may seem impossible. It can help to look at the necessary steps to resolve a situation or to create a solution, and see if there’s any chance of eliminating certain steps and still reaching a goal. Some people get understandably too immersed in total solutions to appreciate the small steps that represent small victories.

Occasionally you’ll see kids practice their own interpretation of boiling the ocean. When a child looks at a hard task, they may be so caught with planning that they can never get started. This is especially the case for kids with certain disabilities like non-verbal learning disorder. Getting homework started, especially written homework, is challenging since a person with this disorder is attempting to solve for every contingency before they write a word.