IdiomDaily Life
Portuguese
PortugueseOnde Judas perdeu as botas
Meaning: In the middle of nowhere; the back of beyond.
Literally: Where Judas lost his boots
Example: “A casa de campo deles fica onde Judas perdeu as botas.” — Their country house is in the middle of nowhere.
English equivalent: In the middle of nowhere
Origin: A legend, not a documented story: after betraying Jesus, Judas is said to have hidden the thirty pieces of silver in his boots and hanged himself barefoot, and those who went looking for the boots never found where he had lost them. The place where Judas lost his boots is the remotest spot imaginable. Portuguese has other names for the back of beyond that use Judas, such as cu de Judas.
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: a casa del diavolo Literally: At the house of the devil
Russian: за тридевять земель (za tridevyat' zemel') Literally: Beyond three-times-nine lands
French: Au diable vauvert Literally: At the devil's Vauvert
English: in the middle of nowhere
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