Whiteisms
The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท O

Out in the sticks

Meaning

A place that is far removed from the conveniences of the city. Being in the sticks usually means you have to drive a long way to find a grocery store.

Casual, down-to-earth

Used in a sentence

  • It is nice to visit, but I could never live out in the sticks.
  • He works out in the sticks on a farm.
  • You have to drive forty minutes to the grocery store when you live out in the sticks.

The backstory

This term refers to wooded or rural areas filled with sticks and trees. It has been used for over a century to denote remote living.

Heard in

Nationwide

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