The back of beyond

Meaning

A lonely forsaken place.

Origin

The inland desert region of Australia that is otherwise known as the Never-never is also sometimes called the 'Back of Beyond'.

The term is more generally used to refer to any real or imagined remote region. It was first put into print by Sir Walter Scott in his novel The Antiquary, 1816:

"You... whirled them to the back of beyond to look at the auld Roman camp."

See other phrases coined by Sir Walter Scott.