# Boondocks. Out in, or down in?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 12, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789 "2026-10-12T19:49:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/41 "2026-10-15T13:49:13Z")

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I’m always tempted to pronounce ‘bún đặc biệt’ (boon dahk bee-et) as ‘boondock beet’.

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/42 "2026-10-15T13:53:01Z")

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I’m voting for “out in” because the “boondocks” refers to a remote location, which would be well outside an urban, suburban or even small town area.

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/43 "2026-10-15T14:56:20Z")

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When you’re out in the boonies, how far is it to the back of beyond?

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/44 "2026-10-15T17:06:31Z")

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Farther than that.

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**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/45 "2026-10-15T17:34:40Z")

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It is possible to be out in the boondocks and down in the dumps simultaneously. In fact, being out in the boondocks could be the _cause_ for being down in the dumps.

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**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boondocks-out-in-or-down-in/1033789/46 "2026-10-15T18:22:52Z")

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IMHO, both phrases are correct but they carry subtly different connotations. “Out in the boondocks” is relatively neutral, while I think “down in the boondocks” suggests a certain amount of disdain for a lower class of existence.

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