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OP In the Eastern part of the US, folks typically refer to the Western part of the country as "Out West." Conversely, those from the West call the other part "Back East." I've always liked these terms, as each conveys to me a particular set of vaguely historical images. Out West makes me think of the dusty cow-towns of cowboy, westerns, where the law was laid down by Mr. Colt. Back East always calls to mind images of wagon trains trundling across the Great Plains, the brave families aboard wondering if they'll reach the mountain passes 'afore the snows set in - makes clear to me just how short the history of this country is, that such things are still so present in our language.
One also hears "Down South" and "Up North," but these are somehow much less evocative, as they seem to gibe with the directions on a map rather than the historical development of a country.
I'm wondering if there are other such phrases people use around the world that convey such things, or that we don't understand - examples for me include "Down Under" for the antipodean regions and "Down East," which is used to refer to portions of the coast of Maine.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Back East Hyla 03/05/02 04:44 PM Re: Back East of troy 03/05/02 04:59 PM Re: Back East Angel 03/05/02 08:13 PM Re: Back East WhitmanO'Neill 03/05/02 11:50 PM Re: Back East Rouspeteur 03/06/02 12:39 AM Re: Back East slithy toves 03/06/02 03:24 AM . Max Quordlepleen 03/05/02 06:47 PM Re: Back East Keiva 03/05/02 07:05 PM Re: Back East Flatlander 03/06/02 05:47 PM Re: Back East Fearless 03/07/02 12:02 AM Re: Back East stales 03/07/02 11:36 AM Re: Back East rkay 03/06/02 04:02 PM Re: Back East Bean 03/06/02 04:40 PM Re: Back East NicholasW 03/07/02 08:42 AM Re: Back East Keiva 03/07/02 12:28 PM downtown NicholasW 03/07/02 01:17 PM Re: Back East of troy 03/07/02 01:36 PM Re: Down Under hev 03/06/02 05:04 AM Re: Back East TEd Remington 03/07/02 04:04 PM Re: Back East ladymoon 03/07/02 04:56 PM Re: Back East Capital Kiwi 03/07/02 07:49 PM Re: Back East tsuwm 03/07/02 08:28 PM Re: Back East Capital Kiwi 03/07/02 08:50 PM Uptown/downtown Angel 03/07/02 11:41 PM Re: Uptown/downtown nancyk 03/08/02 12:16 AM Re: Uptown/downtown Jazzoctopus 03/08/02 02:29 AM Re: Uptown/downtown--foreshore WhitmanO'Neill 03/09/02 05:25 AM Re: Uptown/downtown Sparteye 03/10/02 01:36 AM Re: Back East Jackie 03/08/02 01:25 AM Re: Back East Anonymous 03/08/02 03:04 AM Re: Back East Jackie 03/08/02 12:56 PM Re: Back East belMarduk 03/09/02 03:47 AM Re: Back East Capital Kiwi 03/09/02 04:22 AM Re: Back East Sparteye 03/10/02 01:41 AM u are foreskinny dipping? TEd Remington 03/10/02 06:17 PM Re: Back East stales 03/10/02 02:12 PM Re: Back East Jackie 03/10/02 06:09 PM Re: Back East stales 03/11/02 10:49 AM Re: Back East Faldage 03/11/02 01:03 PM Re: Back East stales 03/11/02 03:57 PM Re: Back East Faldage 03/11/02 04:09 PM Re: Back East wwh 03/11/02 08:22 PM Re: Back East Faldage 03/11/02 08:33 PM Re: Back East wwh 03/11/02 08:55 PM
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