corners of the world
Meaning
This phrase refers to the most remote, distant, or far-flung places across the entire globe.
Origin
The evocative phrase "corners of the world" draws its power from humanity's oldest cosmologies, predating modern geography. Ancient civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, often envisioned a world with definite, finite edges—a flat disc or a square landmass with four distinct boundaries. These far-off "corners" represented the ultimate limits of human knowledge and exploration, a realm of mythical beasts, elemental forces, and unknown peoples. Even as our understanding of a spherical Earth evolved, the compelling imagery of these extreme, distant points endured, becoming a poetic shorthand for any remote, almost inaccessible location on the planet.
Examples
- She had a lifelong dream of traveling to the corners of the world, experiencing every unique culture and breathtaking landscape.
- The rare artifact was believed to have been brought from the corners of the world, having passed through countless hands and civilizations.