meaning - "Out of the box" — when should I use this phrase?


I send a lot of unsolicited emails. In many of them, I ask to buy traditional advertising spots or to help conceive a non-traditional campaign. Oftentimes, I find myself describing these non-traditional campaigns as "out of the box," as in "let's think outside the box!" But I realize this phrase can also be interpreted as "ready-to-go," "turn key" or "prefabricated." That's not what I'm going for.


Am I using the phrase correctly? Is it easily interpreted as I intend? Is there a better phrase?



Answer



The key lies within the text that you used to phrase your question:


"Out of the box" = turn-key, prefabricated.


"Outside the box" = non-traditional, unusual.


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