Out in the sticks

Absolutely! This is the rural part of the rural part. "Backwoods!"

Well, that may be misleading. It doesn't mean deep in the forest. It would be a populated area, with roads which may or may not be paved.

It's a relative expression. To someone from New York City, any place in New Hampshire or Maine or Vermont would be "out in the sticks." (even upstate New York!)

Thanks Avangi.

So if I lived in Portland, Maine, you'd still be inclined (as a New Yorker) to say that I live "out in the sticks". Right?

Just one more additional question:

Does this sound natural to you

Hey man, you live out in the sticks. That town of yours is just a countryside/provincial backwater.

I'd delete the "side" from "countryside."

Well, there are New Yorkers, and then there are New Yorkers. The real "dyed in the wool" type would take a disparaging view of Portland.

But there are all types. As in the case of Los Angeles, many came there from somewhere else.
Of course there are some wealthy New Yorkers who have summer homes in the sticks, and love it.

I lived in Maine for 15 years, but I grew up in metropolitan New York. I didn't feel in the sticks in Portland, but I did when I was in Durham or Pownal or Bowdoinham. There are more restaurants per person in Portland than any other city except San Francisco, so the rumor has it, so that's hardly "in the sticks."

On the other hand, there was an episode of *** and the City where the girls

I'm trying to remember the anecdote about Frank Sinatra. He landed the leading role in a musical, and gave it up when he arrived in the hick town where it would be shot. His disparaging remark was classic, but I'll be durned if I can remember that either!

Thank you both for your comments.

GG, thanks for reminding me of the negative connotation that "backwater" carries.

IvanhrHey man, you live out in the sticks. That town of yours is just a countryside/provincial backwater.

I'm wrong again. I honestly thought you intendedthis as a put-down.

Avangi

IvanhrHey man, you live out in the sticks. That town of yours is just a countryside/provincial backwater.

I'm wrong again. I honestly thought you intended this as a put-down.

That's what I meant.

1) a countryside backwater

2) a provintial backwater

GG interpreted it as "that town o

As long as you want it to be insulting, then "a provincial backwater" works -- I would not use "a countryside backwater," which has no meaning to me.