The sticks
Meaning
A remote, rural area far from towns or cities, often implying a lack of amenities or sophistication.
Origin
Long ago, before sprawling cities dominated the landscape, the world beyond the village or town was often a vast expanse of trees. 'The sticks' was born from this simple visual: an undeveloped, wooded area, bristling with branches and devoid of human constructs. Originating likely in 19th-century America, as pioneers pushed westward and towns grew, 'the sticks' became a handy, if sometimes dismissive, term for any remote, rural locale—a place where the wildness of nature still held sway, far from the paved streets and bright lights of civilization. It evokes an image of rudimentary living, where the dominant feature is still the trees themselves, untamed and plentiful.
Examples
- After living in the city for so long, moving to the sticks was a huge adjustment for her.
- I love visiting my grandparents out in the sticks; it's so peaceful and quiet there.