word usage - Why should one use "back" in these examples?

Back at home, it was so dim.

I used to play football back in my school days.

We used to eat by hands back in my country.

Is back optional in these sentences or does it change their respective meanings in any way?

Answer

"Back" here emphasises the past. It has several meanings "At a place previously left or mentioned", "In or into the past"

• The folks back home are counting on him.


• He made his fortune back in 1955.

The sentences may be understood as:

1. Back at home, it was so dim. (I left the place not long ago)



2. I used to play football back in my school days. (These are memories of the past. Probably far into the past)


3. We used to eat by hands back in my country. (I'm remembering it, the country I lived in not long ago)

Compared to sentences without "back":

1. At home, it was so dim. (A simple statement. It was so dim at home at some time in the past)


2. I used to play football in my school days. (When I was a school boy we used to play football - simple statement)


3. We used to eat by hands in my country. (Again, simple statement)