back of beyond

Meaning

This idiom refers to an extremely remote, isolated, or hard-to-reach place. It is used casually to emphasize that somewhere is far away from civilization or major cities. The tone is often slightly hyperbolic but friendly.

Examples

• We found this amazing little cabin in the back of beyond, with no cell service at all.

  We found this amazing little cabin in the back of beyond, with no cell service at all.

• Why did you book a hotel out in the back of beyond?

  Why did you book a hotel out in the back of beyond?

• To get to the trailhead, you have to drive for hours into the back of beyond.

  To get to the trailhead, you have to drive for hours into the back of beyond.

• They live somewhere in the back of beyond, so we rarely get to visit them.

  They live somewhere in the back of beyond, so we rarely get to visit them.

• I love traveling to the back of beyond to truly disconnect from my daily routine.

  I love traveling to the back of beyond to truly disconnect from my daily routine.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We stayed in a back of beyond hotel.

  ✓ We stayed in a hotel in the back of beyond.

  'Back of beyond' is a noun phrase (usually preceded by 'in the'), not an adjective.

• ✗ He lives at the back of beyond.

  ✓ He lives in the back of beyond.

  The correct preposition to use with this idiom is almost always 'in', not 'at'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't want to camp in the ___ where there's no emergency help nearby.

  💡 A phrase meaning a very remote place.

  Show answer

  back of beyond

• Their cottage is located in the ___ of beyond, surrounded by miles of forest.

  💡 Just the first word of the idiom.

  Show answer

  back