stick
verb /stɪk/
/stɪk/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they stick | /stɪk/ /stɪk/ |
| he / she / it sticks | /stɪks/ /stɪks/ |
| past simple stuck | /stʌk/ /stʌk/ |
| past participle stuck | /stʌk/ /stʌk/ |
| -ing form sticking | /ˈstɪkɪŋ/ /ˈstɪkɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to fix something to something else, usually with a sticky substance; to become fixed to something in this way
- stick something + adv./prep. He stuck a stamp on the envelope.
- We used glue to stick the broken pieces together.
- I stuck the photos into an album.
- (+ adv./prep.) Her wet clothes were sticking to her body.
- The glue's useless—the pieces just won't stick.
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistryb1- Her wet hair was sticking to her head.
- I forgot to stick a stamp on the envelope.
- [intransitive] to become fixed in one position and impossible to move synonym jam
- This drawer keeps sticking.
- stick in something The key has stuck in the lock.
- [transitive, intransitive] to push something, usually a sharp object, into something; to be pushed into something
- stick something + adv./prep. The nurse stuck the needle into my arm.
- Don't stick your fingers through the bars of the cage.
- + adv./prep. I found a nail sticking in the tyre.
Extra Examples- He simply stuck a pin in at random among the names of the candidates.
- She stuck a finger into the sugar bowl.
- The little boy had stuck his head through the railings.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- just
- simply
- in
- into
- on
- …
- close
- closely
- rigidly
- …
- tend to
- decide to
- be determined to
- …
- [transitive] stick something + adv./prep. (informal) to put something in a place, especially quickly or carelessly
- Stick your bags down there.
- He stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled off.
- Can you stick this on the noticeboard?
- Peter stuck his head around the door and said, ‘Coffee, anyone?’
- He stuck the note through her letter box.
- (informal) Stick 'em up! (= Put your hands above your head—I have a gun!)
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- just
- simply
- in
- into
- on
- …
- close
- closely
- rigidly
- …
- tend to
- decide to
- be determined to
- …
- [transitive] somebody can stick something (informal) used to say in a rude and angry way that you are not interested in what somebody has, offers, does, etc.
- I got sick of my boss's moaning and told him he could stick the job.
- [transitive] (British English, informal) (usually used in negative sentences and questions) to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation or person synonym stand
- stick something/somebody I don't know how you stick that job.
- They’re always arguing—I can’t stick it any longer.
- The problem is, my mother can't stick my boyfriend.
- stick doing something John can't stick living with his parents.
- [intransitive] to become accepted
- The police couldn't make the charges stick (= show them to be true).
- His friends called him Bart and the name has stuck (= has become the name that everyone calls him).
- [intransitive] (in some card games) to say that you will not take any more cards see also stuck
attach
become fixed
push something in
put
difficult situation
become accepted
in card games
Word Originverb Old English stician, of Germanic origin; related to German sticken ‘embroider’, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek stizein ‘to prick’, stigma ‘a mark’ and Latin instigare ‘spur on’. Early senses included ‘pierce’ and ‘remain fixed (by its embedded pointed end)’.
Idioms
mud sticks
- (saying) people remember and believe the bad things they hear about other people, even if they are later shown to be false
put/stick the boot in (British English, informal)
- to kick somebody very hard, especially when they are on the ground
- to attack somebody by criticizing them when they are in a difficult situation
- I wonder if the press will put the boot in?
put/stick the knife in | put/stick the knife into somebody
- (informal) to behave towards somebody in an unfriendly way and try to harm them
put/stick your oar in
- (British English, informal) to give your opinion, advice, etc. without being asked and when it is probably not wanted synonym interfere
- I was getting along very nicely until Patrick stuck his oar in.
put/stick two fingers up at somebody
- (British English, informal) to form the shape of a V with the two fingers nearest your thumb and raise your hand in the air with the back part of it facing somebody, done to be rude to them or to show them that you are angry see also V-sign
- She enjoys sticking two fingers up to convention.
stand/stick out like a sore thumb
- to be very easy to notice in an unpleasant way
- The blue building stood out like a sore thumb among the whitewashed villas.
- If you wear a suit to the party, you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.
stand/stick out a mile
- to be very obvious or easy to notice
- It stood out a mile that she was lying.
stick/put the boot in (British English, informal)
- to kick somebody very hard, especially when they are on the ground
- to attack somebody by criticizing them when they are in a difficult situation
- I wonder if the press will stick the boot in?
stick in your head/mind
- (of a memory, an image, etc.) to be remembered for a long time
- One of his paintings in particular sticks in my mind.
stick in your throat/craw (informal)
- (of words) to be difficult or impossible to say
- She wanted to say how sorry she was but the words seemed to stick in her throat.
- (of a situation) to be difficult or impossible to accept; to make you angry
stick your neck out
- (informal) to do or say something when there is a risk that you may be wrong
- I’ll stick my neck out and say that Bill is definitely the best candidate for the job.
stick/poke your nose into something
- (informal) to try to become involved in something that should not involve you
- He's always sticking his nose into other people's business.
stick/stand out like a sore thumb
- to be very easy to notice in an unpleasant way
- The blue building stuck out like a sore thumb among the whitewashed villas.
- If you wear a suit to the party, you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
stick/stand out a mile
- to be very obvious or easy to notice
- It stuck out a mile that she was lying.
stick to your guns
- (informal) to refuse to change your mind about something even when other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong
tell somebody where to put/stick something | tell somebody what they can do with something
- (informal) to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering you
