How do you use "The boonies" in a sentence?

Their cabin is way out in the boonies — no cell service, no neighbors, nothing. I grew up in the boonies — the nearest McDonald's was forty minutes away. We got lost in the boonies and couldn't get GPS to work.

The boonies

Q: What does "The boonies" mean?

A very remote, rural area far from any town or city. When Midwesterners say something is 'out in the boonies,' they mean it's deep in the countryside, far from civilization — the kind of place where you might not have cell service.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: A very remote, rural area far from any town or city.

远离城镇的非常偏僻的乡下地方。

Una zona muy remota y rural, lejos de cualquier pueblo o ciudad.

町や都市から遠く離れた、非常に辺鄙な田舎。

도시나 마을에서 아주 먼 매우 외진 시골 지역.

When Midwesterners say something is 'out in the boonies,' they mean it's deep in the countryside, far from civilization — the kind of place where you might not have cell service.

当中西部人说什么东西'在the boonies里'时，意思是在乡下的深处，远离文明——那种可能连手机信号都没有的地方。

Cuando los habitantes del Medio Oeste dicen que algo está 'out in the boonies', quieren decir que está en pleno campo, lejos de la civilización — el tipo de lugar donde puede que no tengas cobertura de móvil.

中西部の人が「out in the boonies」と言う時は、文明から遠く離れた田舎の奥地を意味する——携帯の電波も届かないような場所のこと。

중서부 사람들이 뭔가가 'out in the boonies'에 있다고 하면, 문명에서 멀리 떨어진 깊은 시골이라는 뜻이다——핸드폰 신호도 안 잡힐 수 있는 그런 곳.

Examples

Their cabin is way out in the boonies — no cell service, no neighbors, nothing.
他们的小木屋在穷乡僻壤的深处——没信号、没邻居、什么都没有。
Su cabaña está en medio de the boonies — sin cobertura móvil, sin vecinos, nada.
彼らの山小屋はブーニーズの奥の奥——携帯の電波もない、隣人もいない、何もない。
그들의 오두막은 정말 오지 중의 오지야——휴대폰 신호도 없고, 이웃도 없고, 아무것도 없어.
I grew up in the boonies — the nearest McDonald's was forty minutes away.
我从小在穷乡僻壤长大——最近的麦当劳开车要四十分钟。
Me crié en the boonies — el McDonald's más cercano estaba a cuarenta minutos.
僕はブーニーズで育ったんだ——一番近いマクドナルドまで車で40分だった。
나는 오지에서 자랐어——가장 가까운 맥도날드까지 차로 40분이었어.
We got lost in the boonies and couldn't get GPS to work.
我们在穷乡僻壤迷路了，GPS也用不了。
Nos perdimos en the boonies y no conseguíamos que funcionara el GPS.
ブーニーズで迷子になって、GPSも使えなかった。
오지에서 길을 잃어서 GPS도 안 됐어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: describing remote locations, rural life

Tone: humorous, descriptive

✓ Do Say

They live way out in the boonies.
他们住在老远的穷乡僻壤里。
Viven allá en the boonies.
彼らはブーニーズのずっと奥に住んでるんだ。
그 사람들은 정말 오지에 살아.
This party is in the boonies.
这个派对在很偏的地方。
La fiesta es en the boonies.
このパーティー、ブーニーズだよ。
이 파티 장소가 오지에 있네.

✗ Don't Say

Don't use it insultingly — people who live in the boonies often love it
不要用它来侮辱别人——住在偏远地方的人往往很喜欢那里
No lo uses de forma despectiva — la gente que vive en the boonies a menudo le encanta vivir allí
侮辱的に使わないこと——ブーニーズに住んでいる人は気に入っていることが多い
모욕적으로 쓰지 마세요——오지에 사는 사람들은 대개 그곳을 좋아합니다

Origin & History

Short for 'boondocks,' from the Tagalog word 'bundok' meaning mountain. American soldiers brought the term back from the Philippines.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Midwest — where vast rural stretches make the term especially apt