backwater

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Noun

backwater (plural backwaters)

1. The water held back by a dam or other obstruction
2. (idiomatic) A remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.
   • 1978, National Opera Association – The Opera Journal page 29 ↗

     It's a volume for those who delight in exploring the backwaters of nineteenth-century opera.

   • 1979, Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

     Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.

3. A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water

Synonyms

• (small, backwards place) jerkwater town, one-horse town, Podunk
• See Thesaurus:remote place

Translations

• Italian: acqua di invaso
• Russian: подпо́р

Translations

• French: patelin, trou perdu
• German: Kaff, Dorf
• Russian: засто́й
• Spanish: pueblucho

Translations

• Russian: гребок

Verb

backwater (backwaters, present participle backwatering; past and past participle backwatered)

1. To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
2. (idiomatic) To vacillate on a long-held position.

Translations

• Russian: грести́
• Spanish: ciar

Translations

• French: lâcher prise

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