| 释义 |
back forty, n. U.S. regional (north) and Canad.
Brit. |ˌbak ˈfɔːti|, U.S. |ˈbæk ˈfɔrdi|
Forms: see back adj. and forty n.
[‹ back adj. + forty n. Also written with numerical symbol for the second element.]
An (undefined) acreage of usually uncultivated land forming the remotest part of a farm, ranch, etc. Also fig.
[1934W. Heighington Whereas & Whatnot 50 The farmer, who explains his failure to plough the ‘back fifty’ by the expression—‘We ain't got round to it yet’.] 1936Amer. Home Feb. 29/1, I had been around the North Woods long enough on vacations to realize that when you wanted a log cabin you went out and caught your logs from somebody's ‘back forty’. 1947Pacific Discov. Jan.–Feb. 5/1 This was wilderness, as distinct from the back forty. 1958W. F. McCulloch Woods Words 5 Back forty, a. The back end of an operation and beyond. b. Any distant place. c. The ideal logging show you never find. 1964Canad. Weekly 5 Dec. 9/1 Remember when we used to cut our own Christmas tree in the back forty. 1990Rolling Stone 12 July 47/1 While America was fighting commies all over the world, communism grew apace in our own back forty. 2003Budget Living Apr.–May 69/1 If your back 40 is measured in feet, not acres, we suggest..scaling back McMullin's eight-foot-diameter tank with a cheaper six-footer. |