0
Timbuktu in northern Mali, on the edge of the Sahara desert has had a long-lasting scholastic contribution to Islamic and world civilization. (Timbuktu is assumed to have had one of the first universities in the world, with 25,000 students back in the 1400s. Local scholars and collectors still boast an impressive collection of ancient Greek texts from that era.)
It was known to early European culture and gained the status of a fabled city at the far end of the world - in the middle of the Sahara desert (and almost impossible to get to!).
Thus the phrase "as far as Timbuktu" came to mean or indicate a place that is unimaginably far away, completely foreign, or unreachable - at the other end of the earth.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe meaning of as far away as Timbuktu is basically, it is nearly impossible to go there. That is because, for a long time, many didn't know that Timbuktu existed. They thought it was made up or just a metaphor. However, it does exist, in Africa. Still it is not an easy or quick journey.
Anonymous
it means something from Africa.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What does the phrase world's far rim mean?
A place far away
What is the meaning of stones throw away?
The meaning of "a stone's throw away" is just that. However far you could throw a stone is the distance usually about 20-25 feet.
What is phrase in eat pray love for do nothing?
The phrase is: DOLCE FAR NIENTE
What does the root tele means?
"far"The word tele means fartele is a Greek root meaning "far away, distant".Some examples of this root would be...televisiontelephonetelegraphtelephototelepathytelethontelegram
What does 'physical remoteness' mean?
Far away
What is the history of the Timbuktu and the meaning behind the phrase as far away as Timbuktu?
dayten thats what its is i want to make a shout out to my teachers professor chris and michelle
What is the history of this town Timbuktu and the meaning behind the phrase as far away as Timbuktu?
dayten thats what its is i want to make a shout out to my teachers professor chris and michelle
What is the history of timbuktu town and the meaning behind the phrase as far away as timbuktu?
dayten thats what its is i want to make a shout out to my teachers professor chris and michelle
What the phrase as far away as timbuktu mean?
The phrase "as far away as Timbuktu" is used figuratively to indicate a very distant or remote location. Timbuktu is a city in Mali that is historically known for being a difficult and faraway place to reach.
What is the history of this town and in the meaning behind the phrase as far away as timbuktu?
dayten thats what its is i want to make a shout out to my teachers professor chris and michelle
What is the history of this town and the meaning behind the phrase ''as far away as Timbuktu''?
dayten thats what its is i want to make a shout out to my teachers professor chris and michelle
What is the definition of timbuktu?
It is a city in West Africa but as a slang term it means a place far, far away.
If you hear someone say they live in Timbuktu what does that mean?
That means they live in far away place
What does as far as timbuktu mean?
Timbuktu is a real place (see link). When used casually as in the question, it usually indicates that a place (or idea, etc.) is unimaginably far away, completely foreign, or unreachable. It means extremely far or a great distance [Edit by Dragongirl515: According to a popular etymology it`s name is made of tin-meaning "Place". And buktu- meaning an old woman who was entrusted with un-wanted belongines. When a traveler was asked where he left his belongins he would say "I left them at tin buktu." Meaning where the buktu lived. The two words ended up fusing into Timbuktu. Then were translated in the Berber languages: "Buqt" meaning "Far away" so tin-buqt means a place close to the end of the world. IE the Sahara desert. [end edit]
Orgins of the phrase out in the tullies?
The mythical ancient Greek island of "Tile", corrupted to "The Isle of Thule", meaning some far away place.
What does the phrase world's far rim mean?
A place far away
What does the phrase 'A hop skip and jump away' mean?
It means that the object is close or not too far away.
