TWO IDIOMS FOR DESCRIBING REMOTE PLACES

Places that are remote (a long way from towns or cities) are sometimes described as the “back of beyond” or “the middle of nowhere.”

 Examples:

 “It felt as though we were heading to the back of beyond instead of a picturesque village just a few miles from York.”

 “Growing up in the back of beyond in Scotland, I have fond memories of eating gooseberries.”

 “It’s been four hours since the train stopped in the middle of nowhere, somewhere between Preston and Lancaster.”

 “They may have an image of being slightly dour, a bit weather-beaten, stuck in the middle of nowhere and with nothing much to do other than cut peat and count sheep.”



 Apparently, “back of beyond” was first used by Sir Walter Scott  in 1816 [1].

 I was reminded of “back of beyond” while reading Chris Riddell’s graphic novel, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse - a delightful story with beautiful illustrations - highly recommended.



 Photo credit: Michael E. (Creative Commons)

 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “back” In The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009.

UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME

The phrase “until (or till) the cows come home” means “for a very long time.”

 Examples

 “They are happy to run until the cows come home and they are not ones to shy away from the colder temperatures.”

 “He said that one can play music until the cows come home, but without visibility, one doesn't get focus from the audience.”

 “Whether a college education is essential or not is perhaps something that can be debated till the cows come home.


 This phrase apparently dates from the 16th Century [1], when dairy cows were not milked daily but would remain in a pasture for a prolonged time [2]. It is often used to emphasise the futility of doing something for a long time, as in the second and third examples.


 Photo credit: ufopilot (Creative Commons)

 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “Cow” in The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 [2] “Till” in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by Susie Dent. 19th ed. Chambers Harrap, 2012.

SKELETON IN THE CUPBOARD

A skeleton in the cupboard is an embarrassing fact that someone wants to keep secret.

 Examples:

 “Now, almost like a skeleton in the cupboard, workmen are bringing to light a reminder of the tram days.”

 “We all have a skeleton in the cupboard. In my case, it was publicised to the world and that wasn’t really fair, I don’t think.”

 The US version of this idiom is “a skeleton in the closet.”

 e.g. “Countless films and TV shows present a group of friends or family who are rattled by the airing of a long-held grievance, or the sudden announcement of a skeleton in the closet.”


 An origin for this idiom is offered in Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable [1], which tells the story of a search for someone who had no problems. Eventually a lady was found who seemed to fulfil this criterion; however, she then took her interviewers upstairs and opened a cupboard containing a human skeleton, which was that of her husband’s rival, killed in a duel. She explained that every night, her husband made her kiss this skeleton.


 Photo credit: Jean-Christophe THEIL (Creative Commons)

 [1] “Skeleton” In Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by Susie Dent. 19th ed. Chambers Harrap, 2012.