back forty

In Southern and Appalachian speech, the "back forty" means the far part of a farm or property, usually the rougher or less-tended land. It comes from the old 40-acre sections in homestead farms and is used figuratively for anywhere out back or remote.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard 'back forty' all my life - but it's more of an old timers thing nowadays.

Pronunciation

[BAK FOR-dee]

Meaning & Usage

- The far part of a farm or property (noun phrase)

Mae:

Where’s he workin’ today?

Earl:

Out on the back forty.

- Any far-off or out-of-the-way place (figurative, noun phrase)

Mae:

How far is it?

Earl:

Way out on the back forty - nearabout the middle of nowhere.

other spellings: back field, out yonder, way out back, workin’ on the back forty, house sits off the back forty, and barn’s out on the back forty

★ The phrase doesn’t always mean exactly 40 acres - it’s just a country way of talking about land that’s far off and harder to work. ★

Origin

The term comes from the Homestead Act of 1862, when farms were often divided into 40-acre sections. The "back forty" was the farthest piece, usually rougher or less fertile. Southern and Appalachian farmers carried the term into everyday talk.

Notes

Still heard in Southern and Appalachian farm talk, though also used in the Midwest and Plains. Outside rural America, it’s often just a colorful phrase meaning "out back" or "far away."

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "back for-dee." Quick and clipped, sometimes "back fohty."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "back forty" always mean 40 acres?

No - it’s figurative now, meaning any far-off piece of land.

Do non-farm folks say it?

Sometimes, but it’s strongest in rural and country talk.

Is it still used today?

Yes - farmers and old-timers use it, and it shows up in storytelling or country songs.