pushing limits
Exceeding normal capacity
Pushing limits means testing or exceeding boundaries—of ability, endurance, rules, or tolerance.
The phrase suggests deliberate effort to go beyond what's normal or comfortable: She's always pushing limits in her training, The design pushes the limits of what's structurally possible.
It can be admiring (ambition, innovation) or critical (recklessness, defiance): Stop pushing limits with your curfew.
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- strainingExerting intense effort
- comfort zonePsychological ease boundary
- breakingComing apart suddenly
- breaking pointMoment of collapse
boundaries · edge · threshold · pushing the envelope · endurance · no pain no gain · testing · extreme · barrier · ceiling · beyond · full throttle · intensity · maximum · overdrive · going all out · breakthrough · challenge
- overdoingoverdoing, overindulging, overkill, excess, overreacting
- competitive drivecompetitiveness, determination, drive, killer instinct, will to win
- going too faroverdo, overstepping, crossing the line, overstep, cross the line
- Peak Performancepeak performance, personal best, maximum effort, best effort, excelling
- exercise injuriesmuscle strain, pulled muscle, sprain, sprains, muscle tear
- outperformingsurpassing, exceeding, excelling, outperforming, outdoing
pushing limitsplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
risk aversion · erring on the side of caution · hedging bets · timidity · keeping one's head down
pushing limitssettling
Reaching resolution or rest
coasting · resting on one's laurels · holding back · treading water · phoning it in
pushing limitscoloring inside the lines
Adhering to prescribed limits
toeing the line · conforming · staying in one's lane · compliance · obedience
push, pushes, pushed, pusher, pushers, pushy, pushiness, limit, limits