stuck1 stuck2 adjective
stuckstuck1 /stʌk/ 
Longman Language Activatorplaces
· In many ways the village is a very old-fashioned sort of place.· Cromer is a charmingly old-fashioned resort that has changed little over the years.
British describing something, especially a shop or room, that has deliberately been made to look old- fashioned so that people will think it is more attractive: · I like your kitchen - it's very olde worlde.· a picturesque village with an ancient church, and plenty of olde worlde tea rooms
if a place is stuck in a time-warp , it has not changed and seems the same as it was many years ago: · That restaurant is still stuck in some kind of late-seventies time-warp.· The country had little contact with the outside world, and remained caught in something of a time-warp.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
She got her foot caught in the wire. They were stuck in a morass of paperwork. I was stuck in a rut and decided to look for a new job. Then, families stuck together through thick and thin. The girl scowled at me, then stuck out her tongue. We were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours.
She got her foot caught in the wire. They were stuck in a morass of paperwork. I was stuck in a rut and decided to look for a new job. Then, families stuck together through thick and thin. The girl scowled at me, then stuck out her tongue.· Sorry I’m late – I was stuck in traffic.
We were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be stuck in a groove► be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place► be (caught/locked/stuck) in a time warp
the past tense and past participle of stick1- A character who is held fast can not move or fight, and is treated as prone.
- Balor was struggling and writhing, but his limbs were held fast and only his thick, shapeless body could move.
- Persephone sprang into her arms and was held fast there.
- She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.
- She tried to struggle, but she was held fast.
stuck1 stuck2 adjective
stuckstuck2 ●●○ adjective [not before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I can't open the window - it's stuck.
- Sorry I'm late. I got stuck in traffic.
- The elevator was stuck between two floors.
- They tried to drive through the snow, but the car got stuck.
- This drawer is stuck.
- But here I am stuck now and can't go out in case I bump into her.
- Douglas drove very carefully, making sure that Jean didn't get stuck at the traffic lights.
- He would instead become stuck making endless comparisons and contrasts, often making no decision at all or a purely random one.
- I was getting stuck with all their problems.
- Obviously it is worth keeping watch over the pond during these times to ensure that the fish do not become stuck.
- She had got stuck getting out of Belfast, and got lost trying to take a short cut round the traffic jam.
- While some special interests get fat, the average taxpayer gets stuck cleaning up the manure and feeling pretty frail.
THESAURUS
[not before noun] fixed or trapped in a particular position or place and unable to move or be moved: · I can’t open this drawer – it’s stuck.· Sorry I’m late – I got stuck in traffic.
[not before noun] stuck and impossible to move – used especially about parts of a machine, or something trapped between two surfaces: · The photocopier is jammed again.· I put in a 50p coin but it got jammed in the slot.
[not before noun] twisted together and unable to be separated – used especially about things such as hair, wire, or string getting caught around something: · The chain of her necklace was entangled in her hair.· Swimming in the river is dangerous because you might get entangled in the weeds.
stuck and unable to move from or leave a place – used about people, vehicles, and animals: · Hundreds of motorists were left stranded by the snowstorms.· We were stranded at Moscow airport.· The jellyfish were stranded on the beach.
stuck in shallow water or on the shore, and unable to move – used about whales, sea creatures, and boats: · They helped push the beached whale back into the sea.· the owner of the beached vessel
Longman Language Activatorunable to escape · I've locked all the doors and windows - he can't get out.· Two of the children couldn't escape, and died in the fire.
unable to escape from a dangerous place or an unpleasant situation: · The miners have been trapped underground for three days.· He was beginning to feel trapped in his job.· The two trapped firefighters were rescued on the second day.
especially spoken to be unable to escape from an unpleasant or boring situation: be stuck in/with/here: · I don't want to be stuck in an office all my life.· I'm tired of being stuck here with the kids all day.
informal to be unable to leave a place, so that you feel bored or very impatient: be cooped up in: · I didn't want to be cooped up in a small hotel room, while everyone else enjoyed the sea.be cooped up with: · I don't know how she survives being cooped up with three screaming kids all day!
used to say that there does not seem to be any way of escaping from a dangerous or unpleasant place or situation: · Don't even try to get out of here - there's no escape.there is no escape from: · There seems to be no escape from the noise and confusion of city life.
to be unable to escape, or feel too frightened to escape, from the place where you are or from an unpleasant situation: · Some of these old people are imprisoned in their own homes by the threat of violence on the streets.
to be unable to escape, for example from a place, an unpleasant situation, or your own thoughts and opinions, so that you feel you cannot do anything to change things: · The door was locked from the outside, and suddenly they realized they were prisoners.be a prisoner of: · In some respects I'm a prisoner of my past - I don't feel I can just start over.
to have something that you do not want · It's only a rented house, so we're stuck with the decor.· As a result of the financial collapse many people are stuck with worthless investments.
when it is difficult to move something especially spoken if you can't move , you are unable to move, for example because you are injured: · Elsie was so frightened that she couldn't move.can't move something: · I can't move my leg - I think it's broken.
someone or something that is stuck is fixed or trapped in a particular position or place and cannot move or be moved: · I can't open the window - it's stuck.stuck in/at/between etc: · The elevator was stuck between two floors.get stuck (=become stuck): · They tried to drive through the snow, but the car got stuck.stuck in traffic: · Sorry I'm late. I got stuck in traffic.
something that is jammed cannot be moved because it is trapped between two surfaces or trapped between parts of a machine: · The drawer's jammed - I can't get it open.jammed in/under/between etc: · The paper has got jammed in the printer again.
if your fingers, back, neck, legs etc are stiff , it is difficult and usually painful for you to move them: · I woke up with a stiff neck this morning.· After a twelve hour plane ride, my back was stiff and sore.feel stiff: · I felt really stiff after playing basketball last week.
British /paralyzed American when it is difficult or impossible to move your body: completely/partially paralyzed: · A car crash in 1997 left him completely paralysed.paralysed with: · Deborah stood at the side of the stage, paralyzed with fear.
unable to move or be moved from a place: · After the flood, hundreds of stranded vehicles lined the roads.stranded on/in/at etc: · Whales occasionally swim too close to shore and become stranded in the shallow water.leave somebody stranded: · My car broke down, and I was left stranded by the side of the road.
also caught up British if two or more things are entangled or caught up , they are completely twisted together so that they cannot move or separate: entangled in: · His hands were entangled in the ropes.· My glasses were caught up in my hair and I couldn't take them off.become/get entangled/caught up (in): · A child swimming in the river had become entangled in the weeds and been drowned.· Our umbrellas got caught up as we tried to squeeze past each other.
if something won't budge , or you can't budge it, you cannot move it even though you try very hard: · Could you give me a hand with this box? It won't budge.· The dresser was so heavy that I couldn't even budge it.not budge (something) an inch: · I tried to raise the window, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They got stuck in a traffic jam. I’ve got something stuck in my throat. If you get stuck on a difficult word, just ask for help. For once Anthony was stuck for words (=did not know what to say).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She got her foot caught in the wire. They were stuck in a morass of paperwork. I was stuck in a rut and decided to look for a new job. Then, families stuck together through thick and thin. The girl scowled at me, then stuck out her tongue. We were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours.
They got stuck in a traffic jam. I’ve got something stuck in my throat. If you get stuck on a difficult word, just ask for help. For once Anthony was stuck for words (=did not know what to say). She got her foot caught in the wire. They were stuck in a morass of paperwork. I was stuck in a rut and decided to look for a new job. Then, families stuck together through thick and thin. The girl scowled at me, then stuck out her tongue.· Sorry I’m late – I was stuck in traffic.
We were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► get stuck in/get stuck into somethingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be stuck in a groove► be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place► be (caught/locked/stuck) in a time warp
- Jane's really stuck on the new boy in her class.
- But my mind was stuck on this Martian theory.
- Co. was stuck on Santa Cruz.
- He must, of course, be stuck on the page where I left him.
- I was afraid I would be stuck on the medicine for ever.
- Now I was stuck on my northernmost hang-up.
- They were stuck on the outside like cheerleaders.
- We're renting the house, so we're stuck with this ugly wallpaper.
- All four of them were stuck with us!
- Chutra and I were stuck with each other like binary stars.
- He sat thinking how he was stuck with her, how there was no privacy in this house for emergency situations.
- I suppose I was stuck with him, like it or not.
- If an organism has haemoglobin, it is stuck with it.
- If she was stuck with wanting a man whose background and conditioning were alien to her, then that was her problem.
- Now they are stuck with those higher prices.
- Rosenberg was stuck with 400 shirts that cost $ 4 each.
- All four of them were stuck with us!
- Chutra and I were stuck with each other like binary stars.
- He sat thinking how he was stuck with her, how there was no privacy in this house for emergency situations.
- I suppose I was stuck with him, like it or not.
- If an organism has haemoglobin, it is stuck with it.
- If she was stuck with wanting a man whose background and conditioning were alien to her, then that was her problem.
- Now they are stuck with those higher prices.
- Rosenberg was stuck with 400 shirts that cost $ 4 each.
- Most of what they accused him of was true, and Wyden was stuck for an answer.
- Antony for once was stuck for words.
- I was stuck for an answer.
- A character who is held fast can not move or fight, and is treated as prone.
- Balor was struggling and writhing, but his limbs were held fast and only his thick, shapeless body could move.
- Persephone sprang into her arms and was held fast there.
- She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.
- She tried to struggle, but she was held fast.
WORD FAMILYadjectivestickystuckunstucknon-sticknounstickerstickinessverbstick
1impossible or unable to move from a particular position: Sara tried to open the window but it was stuck. They got stuck in a traffic jam.stuck in The boat was stuck in the mud. I’ve got something stuck in my throat.2 informal unable to escape from a bad or boring situationstuck in/at Mum resented being stuck at home with two young kids. We could be stuck in this place for days.3 informal unable to do any more of something that you are working on because it is too difficult: Can you help me with my homework, Dad? I’m stuck.stuck on If you get stuck on a difficult word, just ask for help.4be stuck with something informal to have something you do not want because you cannot get rid of it: We are, unfortunately, stuck with this huge, ugly building.5be stuck with somebody to have to spend time with someone or have a relationship with them, even though you do not want to: They are stuck with each other with no end in sight.6be stuck for something to be unable to think what to say or do: For once Anthony was stuck for words (=did not know what to say).7get stuck in/get stuck into something British English spoken to start doing something eagerly and with a lot of energy: Take your jacket off and get stuck in!8be stuck on somebody informal to be attracted to someone: He says he’s stuck on me.THESAURUSstuck [not before noun] fixed or trapped in a particular position or place and unable to move or be moved: · I can’t open this drawer – it’s stuck.· Sorry I’m late – I got stuck in traffic.jammed [not before noun] stuck and impossible to move – used especially about parts of a machine, or something trapped between two surfaces: · The photocopier is jammed again.· I put in a 50p coin but it got jammed in the slot.entangled [not before noun] twisted together and unable to be separated – used especially about things such as hair, wire, or string getting caught around something: · The chain of her necklace was entangled in her hair.· Swimming in the river is dangerous because you might get entangled in the weeds.stranded stuck and unable to move from or leave a place – used about people, vehicles, and animals: · Hundreds of motorists were left stranded by the snowstorms.· We were stranded at Moscow airport.· The jellyfish were stranded on the beach.beached stuck in shallow water or on the shore, and unable to move – used about whales, sea creatures, and boats: · They helped push the beached whale back into the sea.· the owner of the beached vessel