Idioms are special figurative expressions where the words together create a meaning completely different from what they say individually. People use them in everyday speech to make descriptions of distance, remote places, and locations far away much more colorful and vivid. In this article, you will learn fifty unique idioms related to being far away.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean distant locations, remote places, and long distances. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Far Away
1. A far cry
Definition: Very different and located at a great distance from what is expected or normal.
Used in a Sentence: Our quiet cabin in the woods was a far cry from the noisy city streets. / Winning first place in the science fair was a far cry from how I felt when I started.
Similar Expressions: Very different / Long way off
2. At the end of the earth
Definition: A remote place located as far away as possible from civilization.
Used in a Sentence: My grandparents live out in a small village that feels like the end of the earth. / We packed extra supplies as if we were traveling to the end of the earth.
Similar Expressions: Middle of nowhere / Extremely remote location
3. Beyond the horizon
Definition: Located far away in the distance where the sky meets the ground, out of sight.
Used in a Sentence: The sailing ships disappeared far beyond the horizon during their journey. / Our next big adventure waited just beyond the horizon.
Similar Expressions: Out of view / Distant place
4. Beyond the pale
Definition: Sometimes used to describe a place or action that is extremely far removed from normal standards.
Used in a Sentence: Walking alone into the deep, dark cave felt like going beyond the pale. / His wild claims about distant galaxies went way beyond the pale.
Similar Expressions: Out of bounds / Extreme limit
5. Boondocks
Definition: A wild, remote, and isolated place far away from any towns or cities.
Used in a Sentence: Our family camping site was tucked away in the quiet boondocks. / It took us two hours of driving through the boondocks to reach the hiking trail.
Similar Expressions: Middle of nowhere / Remote wilderness
6. By a country mile
Definition: A long distance or by a very wide margin.
Used in a Sentence: Our school soccer team won the tournament by a country mile. / That red bicycle is faster than my old one by a country mile.
Similar Expressions: By far / A long way
7. End of nowhere
Definition: An extremely isolated place located far away from anything familiar.
Used in a Sentence: The old farmhouse was tucked away at the end of nowhere with no neighbors around. / We drove down a dusty dirt road that led straight to the end of nowhere.
Similar Expressions: Middle of nowhere / Remote spot
8. Far and wide
Definition: Covering a very large area and spanning great distances in every direction.
Used in a Sentence: We searched far and wide across the park for the lost baseball. / Visitors traveled from far and wide to see the annual autumn festival.
Similar Expressions: Everywhere / Across long distances
9. Far-flung
Definition: Spreading over a very wide area or located at a great distance.
Used in a Sentence: My cousins live in a far-flung corner of the country that takes days to reach. / The explorers collected rocks from far-flung mountain ranges.
Similar Expressions: Distant / Widely separated
10. From here to kingdom come
Definition: Covering an extremely long distance from one point to another.
Used in a Sentence: Walking across the huge amusement park felt like traveling from here to kingdom come. / He threw his baseball from here to kingdom come across the field.
Similar Expressions: A very long way / Great distance
11. In the back of beyond
Definition: Located in a very isolated, distant, and hard-to-reach place.
Used in a Sentence: Their summer cottage is hidden away in the back of beyond with no cell service. / We traveled deep into the back of beyond to find the quiet fishing stream.
Similar Expressions: Remote wilderness / Middle of nowhere
12. In the middle of nowhere
Definition: A location extremely far away from any towns, roads, or civilization.
Used in a Sentence: Our car broke down right in the middle of nowhere on our road trip. / The hiking trail starts way out in the middle of nowhere.
Similar Expressions: Isolated spot / Remote location
13. Light years away
Definition: An enormous distance away, using a space measurement for time and travel.
Used in a Sentence: Getting my messy bedroom cleaned feels like it is light years away. / The distant twinkling star is light years away from Earth.
Similar Expressions: Extremely distant / Very far
14. Long haul
Definition: A long distance traveled or a task that takes a very long time to finish.
Used in a Sentence: Driving across the desert to visit family is always a long haul. / Learning to play the violin well is a long haul that requires patience.
Similar Expressions: Extended journey / Long process
15. Miles apart
Definition: Being separated by a huge physical distance or having very different views.
Used in a Sentence: Even though we live miles apart, my best friend and I talk every day. / Our opinions on which movie to watch were miles apart.
Similar Expressions: Distantly separated / Far apart
16. Miles away
Definition: Physically distant, or mentally daydreaming and not paying attention.
Used in a Sentence: He stared out the classroom window looking miles away during the math lesson. / My family lives miles away in another state.
Similar Expressions: Daydreaming / Physically distant
17. Mount Neverest
Definition: A humorous phrase for a destination or distance that feels impossibly far away.
Used in a Sentence: Walking up that steep hill with heavy backpacks felt like climbing Mount Neverest. / Cleaning up all those fallen leaves felt like Mount Neverest.
Similar Expressions: Impossibly far / Massive distance
18. Neah, far, and wide
Definition: A playful combination meaning everywhere, both near and extremely far away.
Used in a Sentence: People gathered from near, far, and wide to watch the town fireworks. / We looked for our runaway kitten near, far, and wide.
Similar Expressions: Everywhere / All around
19. Off the beaten path
Definition: A remote location far away from the usual roads and tourist areas.
Used in a Sentence: We discovered a peaceful little creek hidden way off the beaten path. / Their favorite cabin is located far off the beaten path in the mountains.
Similar Expressions: Remote spot / Secluded place
20. Out in the sticks
Definition: Living in a rural area located far away from city conveniences.
Used in a Sentence: My uncle moved out in the sticks where he can grow his own apple trees. / There are no big movie theaters out in the sticks where they live.
Similar Expressions: Countryside / Rural isolation
21. Out of reach
Definition: Located too far away to be touched, grabbed, or attained.
Used in a Sentence: The top shelf cookies were just out of reach for my little brother. / Winning the trophy felt out of reach until we practiced extra hard.
Similar Expressions: Unobtainable / Too distant
22. Out of sight
Definition: Hidden because something has traveled far away beyond visual range.
Used in a Sentence: We waved goodbye until the school bus drove around the corner and was out of sight. / The hot air balloon drifted higher and higher until it was out of sight.
Similar Expressions: Hidden from view / Beyond vision
23. Out of the way
Definition: A remote location that is difficult to reach or far from main roads.
Used in a Sentence: We stopped at a quiet, out of the way diner for lunch during our trip. / Their house is a bit out of the way, so bring a good map.
Similar Expressions: Isolated / Remote
24. Outer space
Definition: A humorous exaggeration for a place that feels completely removed and far away.
Used in a Sentence: His messy bedroom looks like it belongs in outer space. / When he started daydreaming in class, his mind went straight to outer space.
Similar Expressions: Extremely distant / Another realm
25. Over the hills and far away
Definition: A phrase from stories describing a destination located a great distance away.
Used in a Sentence: The brave knight rode his horse over the hills and far away to find the castle. / We imagined our magical kingdom was situated over the hills and far away.
Similar Expressions: Distant land / Far off place
26. Painted desert
Definition: A remote, distant wilderness area known for stunning natural colors.
Used in a Sentence: Exploring the rocky canyons felt like visiting a painted desert far from home. / The distant landscape looked like a painted desert at sunset.
Similar Expressions: Remote wilderness / Distant badlands
27. Remote control distance
Definition: A humorous way to describe something located far enough away that you cannot reach it without help.
Used in a Sentence: My shoes were sitting across the room at remote control distance, so I had to get up. / The television remote was left at remote control distance on the sofa.
Similar Expressions: Across the room / Out of arm reach
28. Rome was not built in a day
Definition: Sometimes used playfully to mean reaching a distant goal takes time.
Used in a Sentence: Walking all the way across the state takes time because Rome was not built in a day. / Finishing our huge group project is a long journey since Rome was not built in a day.
Similar Expressions: Takes time / Long journey
29. Seven seas
Definition: All the oceans of the world, representing traveling extremely far away.
Used in a Sentence: The brave sailors dreamed of traveling across the seven seas. / Pirates searched the seven seas for hidden treasure islands.
Similar Expressions: Global oceans / All waters
30. Skid row
Definition: A run-down area located far away from nice neighborhoods.
Used in a Sentence: We stayed away from the old, empty buildings that felt like a neglected skid row. / Renovating the old part of town helped clean up the old skid row streets.
Similar Expressions: Run-down district / Isolated poor area
31. Stretch of the imagination
Definition: A long distance or concept that requires extra mental effort to visualize.
Used in a Sentence: Walking across the entire state in one day is a big stretch of the imagination. / Imagining our school bus driving to the moon is quite a stretch of the imagination.
Similar Expressions: Huge leap / Distant possibility
32. Sunset boulevard
Definition: A poetic way to describe a long, distant road stretching toward the horizon.
Used in a Sentence: We drove our bicycles down the long road looking like a sunset boulevard. / The highway stretched out toward the mountains like a golden sunset boulevard.
Similar Expressions: Long highway / Distant road
33. The back of beyond
Definition: An extremely isolated place located at the edge of nowhere.
Used in a Sentence: Their cabin in the mountains is tucked away in the back of beyond. / We drove for hours into the back of beyond before finding the campsite.
Similar Expressions: Remote wilderness / Isolated spot
34. The other side of the tracks
Definition: A part of town located across the railroad tracks, often felt to be far away socially or physically.
Used in a Sentence: My best friend lives on the other side of the tracks, just a ten-minute bike ride away. / We explored the older neighborhood on the other side of the tracks.
Similar Expressions: Across town / Distant neighborhood
35. The other side of the world
Definition: A location on the opposite side of the planet, representing maximum distance.
Used in a Sentence: My pen pal lives on the other side of the world in Australia. / Shipping a heavy package to the other side of the world takes several days.
Similar Expressions: Opposite hemisphere / Across the globe
36. To the ends of the earth
Definition: Traveling to the most distant and remote places possible.
Used in a Sentence: I would travel to the ends of the earth to find my lost puppy. / Explorers sailed to the ends of the earth to map new continents.
Similar Expressions: Anywhere / Maximum distance
37. Too far gone
Definition: A situation or place that has traveled too far into distance or ruin to fix easily.
Used in a Sentence: The old wooden fence was too far gone and had to be completely replaced. / Once our kite flew into the high clouds, it was too far gone to catch.
Similar Expressions: Beyond recovery / Too distant
38. Up in the clouds
Definition: Located high up in the sky, far away from the ground.
Used in a Sentence: The tall mountain peaks were hidden way up in the clouds. / Airplanes fly up in the clouds far away from everyday traffic.
Similar Expressions: High above / In the sky
39. Vast expanse
Definition: A huge, wide, open area stretching far away in every direction.
Used in a Sentence: We looked out across the vast expanse of the ocean from the cliff. / The desert presented a vast expanse of golden sand.
Similar Expressions: Wide open space / Huge area
40. Walking distance
Definition: The opposite of far away, meaning close enough to walk to easily.
Used in a Sentence: Thankfully, our neighborhood park is within walking distance of my house. / The grocery store is a short walking distance from school.
Similar Expressions: Close by / Nearby
41. Wandering far and wide
Definition: Traveling across enormous distances while exploring new regions.
Used in a Sentence: The stray dog spent months wandering far and wide before finding a home. / Our imaginations went wandering far and wide during story time.
Similar Expressions: Traveling extensively / Roaming far
42. Way out
Definition: Located at an extreme distance from the center or civilization.
Used in a Sentence: Their family farm is way out in the country past the river. / The astronomy club visited an observatory located way out in the hills.
Similar Expressions: Very distant / Far removed
43. Way out in left field
Definition: Extremely unusual or located far away from the normal topic.
Used in a Sentence: His idea for building a rocket ship in class was way out in left field. / The answer he gave to the math question was way out in left field.
Similar Expressions: Unusual / Distant from reality
44. Where the sun don’t shine
Definition: A humorous idiom for a very dark, hidden, or distant place.
Used in a Sentence: We found my missing backpack hidden way back in the closet where the sun don’t shine. / The old box had been sitting in the basement where the sun don’t shine.
Similar Expressions: Dark corner / Hidden deep inside
45. Wide open spaces
Definition: Enormous natural areas stretching far away with no buildings.
Used in a Sentence: We love visiting ranches to enjoy the gorgeous wide open spaces. / The countryside offers wonderful wide open spaces for running.
Similar Expressions: Open country / Vast outdoors
46. Wild blue yonder
Definition: The open, distant sky far away from the earth.
Used in a Sentence: The colorful paper airplane soared high into the wild blue yonder. / We watched the hawks fly away into the wild blue yonder.
Similar Expressions: Open sky / Vast atmosphere
47. Wilderness
Definition: A wild, natural region located far away from towns and cities.
Used in a Sentence: The backpackers spent a week hiking through the rugged mountain wilderness. / Bears and deer roam freely across the protected wilderness.
Similar Expressions: Remote nature / Uninhabited land
48. Wind blows you
Definition: Traveling wherever distant winds carry you during an adventure.
Used in a Sentence: The sailors let the wind blow them wherever it wanted across the sea. / On our free Saturday, we let our bicycles take us wherever the wind blew us.
Similar Expressions: Drift along / Travel freely
49. World away
Definition: Feeling completely separated from normal life by a huge distance.
Used in a Sentence: Sitting by the quiet lake made the noisy school feel a world away. / Our quiet campsite felt a world away from the busy city.
Similar Expressions: Distant realm / Completely removed
50. Yards away
Definition: Located a short distance away, though sometimes used to describe a gap.
Used in a Sentence: My soccer teammate was standing just yards away ready to pass the ball. / The finish line was only yards away as I sprinted forward.
Similar Expressions: Close by / Short distance
Exercise to Practice
- Our quiet cabin in the woods was a far cry from the noisy city streets.
- My grandparents live out in a small village that feels like the end of the earth.
- Walking alone into the deep, dark cave felt like going beyond the pale.
- Our family camping site was tucked away in the quiet boondocks.
- The sailing ships appeared far beyond the horizon during their journey.
- My uncle lives on the moon, which is a walking distance from my front door.
- We searched far and wide across the park for the lost baseball.
- My cousins live in a far-flung corner of the country that takes days to reach.
- Their summer cottage is hidden away in the back of beyond with no cell service.
- The grocery store is located on another planet and takes three days to drive to.
- Driving across the desert to visit family is always a long haul.
- Even though we live miles apart, my best friend and I talk every day.
- My shoes were sitting across the room at remote control distance, so I had to get up.
- Winning the spelling bee trophy felt out of reach until we practiced extra hard.
- The school bus drove around the corner and was parked right in front of my face.
Answer Key
- True
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe long distances, remote places, and locations far away using fun and colorful language. Try using a few of these expressions when writing adventure stories or talking about your favorite travel destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for far away?
Common idioms for far away include phrases like middle of nowhere, miles apart, and far and wide. These expressions help describe remote locations, long distances, and isolated places in daily life.
Why do we use idioms to describe distance?
Idioms give us vivid, memorable ways to express vast spaces and long journeys that standard words sometimes cannot capture. They make stories and descriptions of adventures much more fun to read.
How can I practice using these idioms?
You can practice by using these phrases when writing stories about characters traveling to magical lands or exploring nature. Matching them to your own family road trips is also very helpful.
Are far away idioms always literal?
Most idioms about distance use figurative exaggeration, like light years away, to emphasize how remote something is. Context helps you understand the specific meaning.
Can idioms help me understand English writing better?
Yes, recognizing these expressions helps you understand travel settings, adventure plots, and descriptive locations in books and movies much more clearly.
