live in the country—live in an area that is farmed or remains in an undeveloped state, as distinct from cities:
- They both came from big cities before they met, and each dreamed of living in the country.
live on the country—be able to survive from what one finds in the wild:
- We took with us provisions for about fifty days, for we hoped in part to live on the country—on fish, game, nuts, and palm-tops.