no ermo do mundo

English translation: "at the back of beyond" (informal)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:no ermo do mundo
English translation:"at the back of beyond" (informal)
Entered by: Nick Taylor

15:36 Oct 11, 2020
Portuguese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Portuguese term or phrase: no ermo do mundo
Hello, this phrase comes from the first sentence of a paragraph setting the scene: "É uma casa no ermo do mundo, dentro da noite, e nela brilha, além das chamas do fogão, a candeia de luz claudicante." I'm wondering if there's a meaning to "ermo" that I'm not aware of, as "wilderness of the world" sounds a bit odd in English. Is the author trying to say the house is remote, or is there a figurative meaning here, especially with that phrase "dentro da noite" which comes after? Thanks all!
AJSComm
Local time: 06:49
"at the back of beyond" (informal)
Explanation:
"at the back of beyond"

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Note added at 1 hr (2020-10-11 17:00:56 GMT)
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Throw in "Stygian" somewhere! :-) At the b(l)ack stygian (of) beyond. OR "At stygian world's end" - It is poetic after all so you can get aay with anything :-)

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Note added at 1 hr (2020-10-11 17:05:47 GMT)
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here is another one - "in the middle of nowhere" and another "in the darkest corner of the earth" etc.
Selected response from:

Nick Taylor
Local time: 10:49
Grading comment
So creative, Nick, thanks! I think something along the lines of your suggestion would allow me to combine the two clauses, to make the sentence more concise. Will think on this some more!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1"at the back of beyond" (informal)
Nick Taylor
3surrounded by the bleakness of the world
Barbara Cochran, MFA
3on the far edge of the world
Ana Vozone
3in the middle of nowhere
Bruno Dutra
3the wasteland (of the world)
Verginia Ophof


  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
surrounded by the bleakness of the world


Explanation:
One option.

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Note added at 52 mins (2020-10-11 16:29:01 GMT)
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Or "surrounded by the bleakness of the desert world".

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 06:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
on the far edge of the world


Explanation:
I think it protrays "remoteness".

https://www.google.com/search?q="far edge of the world"&oq="...

Ana Vozone
Local time: 10:49
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 25
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
"at the back of beyond" (informal)


Explanation:
"at the back of beyond"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2020-10-11 17:00:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Throw in "Stygian" somewhere! :-) At the b(l)ack stygian (of) beyond. OR "At stygian world's end" - It is poetic after all so you can get aay with anything :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2020-10-11 17:05:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

here is another one - "in the middle of nowhere" and another "in the darkest corner of the earth" etc.

Nick Taylor
Local time: 10:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 98
Grading comment
So creative, Nick, thanks! I think something along the lines of your suggestion would allow me to combine the two clauses, to make the sentence more concise. Will think on this some more!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Egon Lessa
41 mins
  -> Cheers Egon
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
in the middle of nowhere


Explanation:
suggestion

Bruno Dutra
Brazil
Local time: 07:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the wasteland (of the world)


Explanation:
suggestion

Example sentence(s):
  • the wasteland

    https://theworld.com/~raparker/exploring/thewasteland/explore.html
Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 04:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 87
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