Home Away from Home, A 🏡
Definition: A comfortable place or dwelling where one feels quite at home.
Origin & History: At first known as a home from home, this expression dates back to the second half of the 1800s. It adopted its current form in the 1920s. The Oxford English Dictionary cites a lyric from Henry Kirk’s The Transport Workers Songbook of ca. 1926: “It’s like a home away from home.” Ever since, it has been a staple in advertisements for hotels and other lodgings, vacation spots, and the like.
Similar Terms & Expressions:
- A second home: Similar to a “home away from home,” it often refers to a place where one can stay often, feeling as comfortable as in their primary home.
- Make oneself at home: Allow oneself to feel relaxed and comfortable in someone else’s home.
- Home is where the heart is: A phrase conveying that your true home is the place where you feel love and comfort, not necessarily your physical residence.
Synonyms:
- A haven
- A sanctuary
Antonyms:
- A fish out of water
- Stranger in a strange land
Quotes:
- “Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
- “Home is the nicest word there is.” — Laura Ingalls Wilder
Notable References:
- Home Away from Home by Anita Desai (Book): A touching compilation of travel essays capturing the essence of feeling at home wherever you roam.
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: Bilbo Baggins often reflects on his own snug Hobbit-hole as a ‘home away from home’ during his adventures.
- Song: Country Roads (Take Me Home) by John Denver – A nostalgic tune that represents the concept of feeling at home no matter where you are.
- Movie: The Holiday – Characters switch homes and eventually realize that home is not just a place but a state of being and feeling.
Thought-Provoking Farewell:
Feeling at home transcends the four walls of your dwelling. It’s about the people, the memories, and the comfort you carry with you. Wherever life’s journey takes you, may you always find a home away from home.
