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the sticks

(American football) 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 re

ðə ˈstɪksSilenthistoricalCurrent165 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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5 citations · last seen May 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(American football) 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.

Heard in the wild
  • “It's going to be interesting to see what the US has folded on to get the strait reopened. I'm assuming it has held some carrots back to help in negotiations in the future with regards to Iran's nuclear ambitions now it has realised the sticks don't work.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “The sticks just keep falling off 😭”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Now playing on MotoStorie: When You Kneel by Studio in the Sticks! Tune in now: https://radiofonico.it #motostorie #radio”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “The entire US population is a failure. While sitting on your ass, rather than picking up the sticks and stones 24/7 and put an end to it. You get what you deserve. The system is you. A lame system for lame ducks.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Y'all the police are running from a white woman in the sticks.... I'm truly living a dream. 💭”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(North America, informal, pejorative) A remote, rural area; a place that is removed from civilization such as the boondocks.

She grew up in the sticks and later moved to the city.
Origin: Possibly derived from 1800s , from English stick. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"the sticks" means: A remote, rural area; a place that is removed from civilization such as the boondocks.. This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"the sticks" means: A remote, rural area; a place that is removed from civilization such as the boondocks.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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