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stick(verb)/stɪk/ /stɪk/Verb Forms- to fix something to something else, usually with a sticky substance; to become fixed to something in this way
- He stuck a stamp on the envelope.
- We used glue to stick the broken pieces together.
- I stuck the photos into an album.
- Her wet clothes were sticking to her body.
- The glue's useless—the pieces just won't stick.
Extra Examples- Her wet hair was sticking to her head.
- I forgot to stick a stamp on the envelope.
- to become fixed in one position and impossible to move
SYNONYM jam https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/jam_2 - This drawer keeps sticking.
- The key has stuck in the lock.
- to push something, usually a sharp object, into something; to be pushed into something
- The nurse stuck the needle into my arm.
- Don't stick your fingers through the bars of the cage.
- 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.
- 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.
- Stick 'em up! (= Put your hands above your head—I have a gun!)
- 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.
- to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation or person
SYNONYM stand https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/stand_2 - 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.
- John can't stick living with his parents.
- 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).
- to say that you will not take any more cards
SEE ALSO stuck https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/stuck_1
- people remember and believe the bad things they hear about other people, even if they are later shown to be false
- 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?
- to behave towards somebody in an unfriendly way and try to harm them
- to give your opinion, advice, etc. without being asked and when it is probably not wanted
SYNONYM interfere https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/interfere - I was getting along very nicely until Patrick stuck his oar in.
- 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 https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/v-sign - She enjoys sticking two fingers up to convention.
- 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.
- to be very obvious or easy to notice
- It stood out a mile that she was lying.
- 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?
- to be remembered for a long time
- One of his paintings in particular sticks in my mind.
- to be difficult or impossible to say
- She wanted to say how sorry she was but the words seemed to stick in her throat.
- to be difficult or impossible to accept; to make you angry
- 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.
- to try to become involved in something that should not involve you
- He's always sticking his nose into other people's business.
- 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.
- to be very obvious or easy to notice
- It stuck out a mile that she was lying.
- to refuse to change your mind about something even when other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong
- to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering you
Word Origin- verb 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)’.
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