Idioms · Proverb Hunter

Back of beyond

Somewhere very remote. Every summer we go to the back of beyond for a camping trip.

One is in a very difficult position The man's back was against the wall and there was nothing that he could do to change the situation.

To be available to the public again (a library book). The books were back in circulation after we returned them to the library.

To fail to carry through on a threat to do something. The government backed down from their plan to sell the national airline.

Backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way. The argument went back and forth before the judge made a decision.

To avoid someone or something totally. The girls avoided the new student like the plague.

To calculate something as an average. The cost of our hotels averaged out at much more than we expected.

The route along which someone or something escapes. There was no avenue of escape for the bank robbers.

To support someone or something that cannot win or succeed. We backed the wrong horse in the election and our candidate lost badly.

To predict good things for someone or something. The poor business conditions do not augur well for the workers.