# neck of the woods

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/neck-of-the-woods
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A local neighbourhood or region.

## Examples

- It is nice to see you in this neck of the woods.
- I did not know you lived nearby, so I was surprised to see you in my neck of the woods.
- After years of traveling abroad, he finally returned to his old neck of the woods to settle down and reconnect with his family.

## Origin

The phrase derives from the use of neck to denote a narrow tract of land, or perhaps from the Algonquian *naiack*, signifying a point or corner. While the former suggests a topographical extension of the anatomy, the latter traces the idiom to an indigenous designation for a specific geographic bend.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.