2006-08-15 15:44:11 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Timbuktu is a real place. It is located in Africa in the country of Mali. It is in the desert and is very isolated, so when it was discovered, it was said to be so far removed from society, and the phrase came about after that and has stuck to this day because of the unusual name (even though it was changed slightly from the orginal spelling). The ironic thing about is that it is not so isolated anymore and is actually a decent sized village compared to some others. It is now so recognized as to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2006-08-15 15:53:04 · answer #1 · answered by wcivils 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Timbuktu is a place in Mali, a North African country.
In the days before airplanes it took a long time to go from America to Timbuktu. And because the name was unusual, it kind of caught on.
2006-08-15 15:53:44 · answer #2 · answered by Harley Charley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its always fascinating to me that people will answer a question knowing fully well that they dont have a clue about what theyare saying. As one respondent said it is a real place and because in todays world it is rather remote - hence the phrase "as far away as Timbukto.
But in the middle ages Timbuktu is well-known to the Arab/African world and has a fascinating history as a center of learning.
Its another piece of world history to explore and learn about.
2006-08-15 16:07:11 · answer #3 · answered by worriedaboutyou 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Country folk use it to describe how far it is to the Walmart or gas station. lol Literally. For me it has about the same meaning as bum-f**k Egypt, meaning way out in the middle of no where. People have different meanings of the words they use.
2006-08-15 15:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a phrase that expresses as far away as you can imagine. It's something people say to express how far something is. They just don't really know how far it actually, literally is:)
2006-08-15 15:47:47 · answer #5 · answered by leecappella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something or someone very far away. It sounds like it isn't from here. That's the point.
2006-08-15 15:57:22 · answer #6 · answered by Simmi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a place very far south of Bum **** Egypt
2006-08-15 17:10:52 · answer #7 · answered by searing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Timbukto is not really a place. It's as close to as far away as possible.
2006-08-15 15:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by Jackie G 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Everyone has their own view, but I don't believe so
2016-08-08 12:39:34 · answer #9 · answered by Shelly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thanks to each and every one of you guys for the replies.
2016-08-23 04:27:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋