Phrase guide

the sticks

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A remote, rural area; a place that is removed from civilization such as the boondocks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US, derogatory, informal, uncountable

Examples

  • She grew up in the sticks and later moved to the city.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backwoods, boonies, boondocks, hinterland, middle of nowhere, Isolated town, bump in the road, jerkwater, jerk-water, jerkwater town, one-horse town, wide spot in the road, Isolated place, arse end of nowhere, back of beyond, back forty, backcountry, backwater, beyond the black stump, boondock, bumfuck middle of nowhere, bumfuck nowhere, dullsville, edge of the earth, edge of the world, ends of the earth, ends of the world, north forty, off the beaten track, out of the way, sticks, the sticks, Actual places, back o' Bourke, Outer Mongolia, Timbuktu, Tuktoyaktuk, Fictional places, Anytown, BFE, Bumblefuck, Bumfuck, Egypt, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nowhere, Ohio, Buttfuck, East Bumfuck, East Jesus, Hicksville, Nowheresville, Podunk, Squedunk, Whateverville, wop-wops, Woop Woop

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The set of yardage markers used by a chain crew to indicate the ten yards between the line of scrimmage from the previous first down and the line to gain, which the offense must reach in their series of four downs in order to retain possession of the ball.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: American-football, ball-games, football, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • They gained just enough on that play to move the sticks and continue the drive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: the chains, the yardsticks

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Possibly derived from 1800s Chinook Jargon stick (“tree, forest”), from English stick.