Idiom: Off the Beaten Track/Path – in or into an isolated place; in a place where very few people go; a place not known by the general public
Context #1 – Roommates at home
Vanessa: Hey, Brad! I’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been?
Brad: Oh, hi Vanessa. Sorry, I was really stressed out at work today. I needed to just get away from the crowds for a while, so I stopped by a little pub that is off the beaten path. It was nice just sitting down alone and relaxing for a while with no one to bother me.
Vanessa: You found a pub that is off the beaten path in LA?
Brad: Yes, unbelievable! There are a few regulars that go there, but it’s never crowded and people just leave you alone. It’s great when you need to unwind.
Context #2 – Two friends talking before going on vacation
Sami: I’m so excited. I can’t wait until my vacation!
Petra: Really? Where are you going?
Sami: Well, I’ve been really stressed out with school lately, so I wanted to go somewhere that is off the beaten track. Someplace where I can be alone.
Petra: Sounds nice!
Sami: Yes. I am driving up to Oregon and I’m going to stay in a little Bed and Breakfast my roommate told me about a few weeks ago.
Petra: Well, if you want to go somewhere quiet, it is always good to find a place that is off the beaten track. Then, you don’t have to deal with all the crowded places that tourists like to visit.
Meaning: “Off the beaten track/path” means a place that is isolated or is not known by a lot of people. In context 1, Brad needs to go somewhere quiet where no one will bother him, so he finds a pub that is “off the beaten path.” In context 2, Sami wants to spend her vacation in a place that is off the beaten track so that she doesn’t encounter crowds of people and can just relax.
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