# Why a "Country Mile?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545 "2007-04-03T11:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/1 "2007-04-03T11:58:40Z")
I’ve heard the term “Country Mile” to mean “a long way” as in, “He hit that ball a country mile.” Where did this term come from and what exactly is a country mile? My impression is that it alludes to folks out in the country being hardier than city-bred men. Therefore, a rural persons idea of a mile is longer than city folks. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/2 "2007-04-03T12:17:56Z")
In general distances and times given to townies by countryfolk (specially times based on the countryfolk’s own walking speed) are grossly miscalculated. I’ve seen this in Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica… mileage may vary in other places. The village closest to mine is 5km away following the road. I’ve walked that in about 30 minutes, along with a gaggle of other girls, when we were 15 (we didn’t know anybody who could drive us over). My female, same age as me, citybred cousin came over for a few days that same summer and she complained that her legs were killing her after only 15’ walking around 😛 We reckoned 15’ wasn’t even warm-up. So I think it may be that the (distance) that’s “right here, mebbe a mile” for a country person feels huge to the townie walking it. Even nowadays, when it’s more likely for people to drive than walk, someone local who already knows the path will get wherever faster than someone who’s making sure he doesn’t miss a marker. Pre-cellphones joke: The car broke down right beside a field where a farmer was working. After checking that they couldn’t fix it, the young couple called the farmer over “how much to the village?” The farmer didn’t say a word, just stared. “Good man, how long is it to the village?” Stare. When they started walking, the farmer said “at\* that\* speed, you’ll be there around lunchtime tomorrow.” ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/3 "2007-04-03T12:30:11Z")
It might also be due to the fact that a mile in the countryside is more likely to be travelled down winding roads, or having to negotiate different terrain - so you might be covering only a mile between A and B but the convoluted route there might be a lot more lengthy. Whereas a mile in the city is likely to be literally more straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/4 "2007-04-03T13:29:43Z")
Is a New York Minute longer or shorter than a standard one? ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/5 "2007-04-03T13:42:47Z")
Slight hijack. I’ve always wanted to write a Country song about travelling “ **A Country Mile in a New York Minute**.” Problem is, my lyrics-fu is weak. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/6 "2007-04-03T13:44:15Z")
Shorter, **Mangetout** , because in New York even Time is in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/7 "2007-04-03T13:52:28Z")
Measurements out in the country tend to also be given in the form “Up the road a piece”, or perhaps “If you hit the state line, you’ve gone too far.” Also, going places out in wide open spaces feels like it takes _forever_. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/8 "2007-04-03T13:52:30Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Is a New York Minute longer or shorter than a standard one? [/QUOTE] Stereotype: New York is an impatient & busy place, it runs full-speed 24/7. If a typical workday is 8 hours, then New York crams 24 hours into that 8-hour slot. As such, a New York minute would be about 20 seconds. And that’s about the maximum amount of time you’ll get with a total stranger before they start thinking they need to be somewhere else. Unless you’re looking like a mark, in which case you should be taking note of the time yourownself. Think _Aliens_: “You now have 60 seconds to reach minimum safe distance…ok, make that 20 seconds, now move your ass, I ain’t got all day!” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/9 "2007-04-03T13:58:21Z")
[QUOTE=Ferd Burfel] Slight hijack. I’ve always wanted to write a Country song about travelling “ **A Country Mile in a New York Minute**.” Problem is, my lyrics-fu is weak. [/QUOTE] I’d run a country mile in a New York minute To see a coffin with my ex-wife in it Oh oh oh she done me wrong ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/10 "2007-04-03T14:00:28Z")
- Wild Applause \* ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/11 "2007-04-03T15:00:54Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] I’d run a country mile in a New York minute To see a coffin with my ex-wife in it Oh oh oh she done me wrong [/QUOTE] Bravo! Some record label, please sign this man up! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/12 "2007-04-03T15:11:11Z")
[QUOTE=toadspittle] Bravo! Some record label, please sign this man up! [/QUOTE] Don’t you think we should hear him sing it first? On second thoughts… it’s Country music… no need. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/13 "2007-04-03T15:20:12Z")
“In a New York minute” is used here to mean “you betcha” Would you accept half of this hunk of chocolate cake? In a New York Minute. If you could get away with shooting OJ would you? In a New York Minute. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/14 "2007-04-03T15:24:27Z")
Sure, but the implied meaning is ‘without much hesitation’, isn’t it? (i.e. in _less than a minute_) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/15 "2007-04-03T15:33:31Z")
The [Wikipedia article on “country mile”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_mile) offers some possibilities. This is not one of those times I’m comfortable taking Wiki’s word on it. 😛 **Samclem** , help?? ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/16 "2007-04-03T15:43:35Z")
I think the term comes from the psychological difference between travelling a mile in the country versus one in a city or town. The rural mile just seems longer, I suppose because the terrain remains essentially the same all along the route. (Note that I purposely avoided the terms “boring” and “monotonous” because of their subjective and negative tone, so please do not jump on me – especially since I find the scenic pleasures of rural roads a joy.) One experiences this phenomena most acutely on a bicycle. City miles, even with their stoplights and pedestrian and auto traffic, seem to fly by because your mind is constantly engaged as you negotiate the route. Rural miles, with nothing to keep your mind occupied, can seem endless. Btw and fwiw, my long distance bike touring experience has taught me who really knows how long a real odometer-clocked mile is. The following ranking is from best to worst. My apologies for the sexist nature of the results and the broad generalizations they convey, but sometimes the truth hurts. [Smilie goes here] BEST-TO-WORST MILE-ESTIMATORS: Male rural drivers Male suburban drivers Female rural drivers Male & female suburban walkers/runners/bikers Male urban walkers/runners/bikers Female urban walkers/runners/bikers Female suburban drivers Male urban drivers Female urban drivers NOTE: There are no rural walkers/runners/bikers. They do not exist. Everybody in the country drives. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/17 "2007-04-03T16:46:24Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] The [Wikipedia article on “country mile”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_mile) offers some possibilities. This is not one of those times I’m comfortable taking Wiki’s word on it. 😛 [/QUOTE] I agree with you on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/18 "2007-04-03T16:53:20Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] I’d run a country mile in a New York minute To see a coffin with my ex-wife in it Oh oh oh she done me wrong [/QUOTE] You’re halfway there. Where’s the part about the truck? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/19 "2007-04-03T17:09:53Z")
I always thought it to be sort of a habit of embellishment based loosely on reality, having something to do with the way things are often assumed to be bigger or grander in the country. Sort of like the whole fake Texas=big thing, but having to do with actual houses being bigger, yards being bigger, vehicles being bigger, people being bigger, the distance to the local grocery being longer, etc. Sort of a habit of embellishment based loosely on reality. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545/20 "2007-04-03T17:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=Ferd Burfel] You’re halfway there. Where’s the part about the truck? [/QUOTE] He has to think of a rhyme for it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-country-mile/398545.md?page=2)