backyard
in (one's) (own) back yard
In or near to one's area of residence or business. Local farmers have banded together to protest the government's plan of building a series of windfarm generators in their back yard. We don't want to have such a large, ugly monument in our own back yard.
See also: back, yard
not in my back yard
A clichéd expression of opposition to some development or change proposed for one's immediate area, based on the opinion that it will have a negative impact on one's home or local surroundings. Often abbreviated with the acronym "NIMBY." There will always be people shouting "not in my back yard" any time a development is proposed.
See also: back, not, yard
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
in one's (own) backyard
Fig. very close to one, where one lives, or where one is. That kind of thing is quite rare. Imagine it happening right in your backyard. You always think of something like that happening to someone else. You never expect to find it in your own backyard.
See also: backyard
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
in one's own backyard
In one's own domain, in a position very close to one. For example, You didn't expect to find a first-class organist in your own backyard. [Mid-1900s] Also see close to home.
See also: backyard, own
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
not in my back yard
ornot in my backyard
People use not in my back yard to talk about a situation where people do not want something to exist or happen near them, although they do want it to exist or happen somewhere else. Ottawa's inner city needs that kind of development, but it comes with predictable `not in my back yard' cries of opposition from local residents.
See also: back, not, yard
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
not in my back yard
expressing an objection to the siting of something regarded as undesirable in your own neighbourhood, with the implication that it would be acceptable elsewhere.This expression originated in the USA in derogatory references to anti-nuclear campaigners. In Britain it is particularly associated with reports of the then Environment Secretary Nicholas Ridley's opposition in 1988 to housing developments near his own home. More recently, it has been used in association with the siting of housing for refugees and asylum seekers. The phrase has given rise to the acronym nimby as a term for someone with these attitudes.
See also: back, not, yard
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
in your (own) backˈyard
in or near the place where you live or work: The residents didn’t want a new factory in their backyard. The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard (= from his own members).The term nimby is formed from the first letters of not in my backyard. A nimby is a person who claims to be in favour of a new project, but objects if it is too near their home and will disturb them in some way.
See also: backyard
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
Not in my backyard!
and NIMBY exclam. & comp. abb. Don’t locate something undesirable close to me. (Describes an attitude that people express about having noisy or dirty facilities installed close to where they live.) When you say, build the new incinerator here, I say NIMBY.
See also: not
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- in (one's) (own) back yard
- in backyard
- in one's own backyard
- in your backyard
- speak against
- speak against (someone or something)
- (one's) jig is up
- at (one's) doorstep
- at doorstep
- at somebody's expense