In common slang and idiomatic usage, "Timbuktu" refers to a place that is very far away, remote, or difficult to reach. It's often used hyperbolically to convey extreme distance or isolation rather than its literal geographical location.
Understanding the Figurative Use
While Timbuktu is a real city in Mali, West Africa, its name has become synonymous with extreme remoteness in many English-speaking cultures. When someone says "I'd have to go all the way to Timbuktu," they are typically expressing that the destination is exceedingly distant, out of the way, or located in an isolated region. It evokes an image of the ends of the earth or a place beyond common reach.
Common Usage and Examples
The phrase is widely understood and used in informal conversation to emphasize great distance or inaccessibility. It's less about the actual geographical coordinates of Timbuktu and more about the concept of being incredibly far off.
Here are a few ways "Timbuktu" is used in everyday language:
- To denote extreme distance:
- "My cousin lives so far away, it feels like he's moved to Timbuktu."
- "I looked everywhere for my keys, even in places I thought were Timbuktu."
- To describe an isolated or obscure location:
- "The new restaurant is located out in Timbuktu; it's so hard to find."
- "Why would anyone build a store way out in Timbuktu?"
- As a humorous exaggeration:
- "Are you going to drive all the way to Timbuktu just for that?"
In essence, using "Timbuktu" in this manner is a colourful way to convey "the middle of nowhere" or "a long, long way off."
