in the middle of nowhere

Meaning

This expression refers to a place that is extremely remote, isolated, and far away from any cities, towns, or civilization. It is used casually and can sometimes carry a slightly negative tone of being inconveniently isolated, or a positive tone of being peaceful and untouched.

Examples

• Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and we didn't have any cell service.

  Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and we didn't have any cell service.

• They bought a beautiful cabin in the middle of nowhere to get away from the city noise.

  They bought a beautiful cabin in the middle of nowhere to get away from the city noise.

• The festival is held in the middle of nowhere, so you'll need to camp overnight.

  The festival is held in the middle of nowhere, so you'll need to camp overnight.

• I got lost and ended up at a tiny gas station in the middle of nowhere.

  I got lost and ended up at a tiny gas station in the middle of nowhere.

• It's a lovely hotel, but it's completely in the middle of nowhere with no restaurants nearby.

  It's a lovely hotel, but it's completely in the middle of nowhere with no restaurants nearby.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We stayed in a house at the middle of nowhere.

  ✓ We stayed in a house in the middle of nowhere.

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

• ✗ The hotel is in the middle of no place.

  ✓ The hotel is in the middle of nowhere.

  The idiom is fixed; you cannot substitute 'nowhere' with 'no place'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We had to drive for hours before we found a hotel because we were ___.

  💡 In a very remote area far from civilization.

  Show answer

  in the middle of nowhere

• I love camping ___ where I can actually see the stars.

  💡 In an isolated, distant location.

  Show answer

  in the middle of nowhere