back forty
The most remote or inaccessible part of any place.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He keeps his old tractor in the back forty.”
“We rarely visit the back forty of the property because the weeds are too tall.”
“The store manager had to search the back forty of the warehouse to find the extra boxes of winter coats that were delivered last month.”
“The explorer ventured into the back forty of the estate, where the dense forest had reclaimed the land long ago.”
From *back* + *forty*, the term originated in the American 1860s following the passage of the Homestead Acts. Under these statutes, settlers were granted a quarter section of land. As a standard section was nominally one square mile containing 640 acres, a quarter section comprised 160 acres. This allotment was further partitioned into four quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres each.
The division of the 160-acre homestead created two front forty-acre plots and two back forty-acre plots. The latter term designated the most remote portion of the farm, situated furthest from the main buildings and the public road. The expression remains a linguistic relative of *north forty*, *backcountry*, and *backwater*.
- 01
all the way to Egery and back
The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.
- 02
back down
To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.
- 03
back gammon player
A person, chiefly a homosexual, who has anal sex.
- 04
back in the game
Having recovered from a disadvantageous position.
- 05
back into
To advance to the post-season as a result of another team's loss, especially where one's own team has also lost.
- 06
back of one's hand
A display of disrespect or scorn.
- 07
back off
To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.
- 08
back office
The IT and infrastructure support services for a company, separate from the public face of the business.
Last updated August 10, 2026