The Sprawls

A catch-all term that includes Suburban, Exurban, & Rural areas in North America where you need a car for everything.

It includes all places shaped by low-density single-family zoning, car-dependency, & consumerism. It does not include TV-style walkable suburbs like Springfield or rural agrarian areas where everyone grows their own food.

The Sprawls is where a growing majority of Americans actually live but TV refuses to display. Whether you live in a beige McMansion in the suburbs or a trailer home near a cow field, both can say they live in The Sprawls.

Life in the Sprawls is defined by a lack of walkable old-town areas, lack of 3rd places or nightlife, huge parkinglots, LOTS of driving, & hardcore consumerism & commercialism. There's little to do in Sprawl towns other than shopping & driving. Human contact is minimal & transactional. Most of your time will be spent indoors or sitting in traffic.

The Sprawls came to be after WW2 & the rapid expansion of the auto industry & suburbs, especially in real estate landgrabs like in Texas.

Many people are dependent on social media for human interaction since the Sprawls are designed to isolate us. Meeting people requires planning, driving, spending money, & scheduling weeks ahead. Over time life in The Sprawls produces loneliness, boredom, screen addiction, resentment, & the feeling that life is permanently stalled even if you’re “doing everything right.”

"Just walk outside & talk to someone?! Dude where do you think I live? Fucking Time Square? I live in the Sprawls dude. Aint nobody making friends here, we're just sitting in our cars the whole time we leave home."

Most TV shows & movies take place in a handful of vibrant settings like old city blocks or Rockwell suburbs. But few ever dare to show the Sprawls, for it would be a very isolating depressing setting where everyone has to plan to meet up.

Anyways I live in the Sprawls, so it shouldn't be hard to guess why I rarely get to talk to girls my age.

I was born in the sprawls, so I didnt get to have many friends growing up, didn't go to many parties, get girlfriends, etc. I pretty much grew up on TV cartoons & videogames.

The Sprawls by Evan Joestar February 3, 2026

Sprawl and Brawl 

A term used to describe a fighting style in the sport of mixed martial arts. A "sprawl and brawl" fighter's goal is to avoid takedowns, remain in a standing position and strike with his opponent. Therefore, he will try to avoid takedowns by sprawling and other defensive grappling moves.

The sprawl is employed when a grappler shoots a takedown aimed at the sprawl and brawl fighter's legs. The sprawl and brawl fighter shoots his legs back and positions himself on top of his opponent's frame to avoid the takedown.

The sprawl and brawl fighter then gains separation from his opponent and tries to strike or "brawl" with his opponent while standing.

The term sprawl and brawl owes much of its origin to the martial arts style termed "ground and pound" which has earlier origins in the sport.

"Chuck Liddell can sprawl and brawl better than anyone else in the sport."

Sprawl and Brawl by Jonathan Zungre November 12, 2007

sprawl 

To occupy the largest amount of space as possible, spreading every part of your body to occupy the surface you are on, whether it be a chair, couch, bed, or even a counter.

The Art of Sprawling is best performed while lying down. A trained 'Sprawler' will spread their legs and arms out as far as possible, in order to occupy every corner and crevice.

"Jim, leave some space on the couch man, don't sprawl!"

sprawl by Mike Ling December 9, 2008

Female Sprawl 

When a woman on public transit uses the seat and/or seats next to her to store her purse, handbag, backpack, etc in complete and utter disregard for the actual paying customers of said public transit that are left standing because their Coach bag is too expensive to put on the floor.

I was on the bus the other day and a lady had her purse taking up the TWO seats next to her, in typical Female Sprawl fashion. I politely asked her if she could move it and she refused. I then told her that if it doesnt have a fucking ticket, i'm sitting on it.

Female Sprawl by Dr. Nun y Obidniz January 10, 2015

Pubic Sprawl

The unsightly result of unkept pubic hair which can be seen growing along the edge of underwear or bathing suits. Typically occurs along the crotch and groin of women; however, can also be spotted in men, most often of Eastern European decent, when wearing tightie-whities and banana-hammocks.

“Damn, Ho! Is that a Chia Pet in your panties or Pubic Sprawl?! You better trim that shit before a rat nests in that bush.”

“Cases of pubic sprawl are on the rise once again this quarter, another economic indicator signaling a financially troubled country that can no longer afford adequate pubic grooming.”

“Borat was clueless of the effect that his public sprawl had on the ladies.”

Pubic Sprawl by Noodle Rob October 25, 2009

Sprawling 

one or more people gathered together to chill, smoke weed and listen to music.

Josh: Hey mahn, what's up?
Matt: I'm just sprawling, till my roommate comes back.

Sprawling by aye.flacko August 17, 2018

urban sprawl 

covering every green ppeice of land with housing developments that are filled with poorly made, yet massive, houses that all look identical(mc mansions), gas stations, malls, strip malls, chain restrants, etc. so corporate assholes can buy hummers and fuck up our envirornment just like how our society is fucked up.

go take shrooms, youll learn somthing.

urban sprawl is another thing that americans will one day regret.

(interchange causes malls,
and crouded chain resterants.
more housing developments go up
named afer the things they replace.
so welcome to medow brook,
and welcome to shady space.
well it all seems a bit abrupt,
no, i dont like this change of space.

-modest mouse)

cloned houses equals cloned minds.

urban sprawl by aaronabud July 6, 2006