Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - stick

~1 v past tense and past participle stuck 1 »PUSH« T always + adv/prep, intransitive always + adv/prep if a pointed object sticks into something or you stick it into something, it is pushed into it  (stick sth in/into/through etc)  (They stuck pins in the map to mark enemy positions. | stick in/through etc)  (Joe had cactus spines sticking in his finger.) 2 »FIX« to fix something to something else with a sticky substance, or to become fixed to a surface  (I can't get this stamp to stick. | stick sth to/in/on etc)  (It took hours to stick all these photos in my album.)  (It was so hot his shirt was sticking to his back.) 3 »PUT« T always + adv/prep informal to put something somewhere quickly and without thinking carefully; shove1 (2)  (stick sth in/on/there etc)  (Just stick your coat on that chair.) 4 »DIFFICULT TO MOVE« if something sticks it becomes fixed in one position so that it is difficult to move  (This cupboard door keeps sticking.) 5 stick in sb's mind if something sticks in your mind, you remember it very well, especially because it is unusual or interesting  (What really sticks in my mind is how sad the woman looked.) 6 stick it T usually in negatives) to continue to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation  (College is harder than I thought, I don't think I can stick it much longer.) 7 make sth stick informal to prove that someone is guilty  (The police won't bring the case to court because they don't think they can make the charges stick.) 8 you/they can stick sth spoken used to say angrily that you do not want what someone is offering you  (You can stick your job if you won't pay me more than that!) 9 be stuck fast to be fixed in one position and unable to move  (His arm was stuck fast in the drainpipe.) 10 stick fast to a belief/idea etc to continue to believe something although it may be difficult  (Through it all Stella has stuck fast to her belief in the Communist system.) 11 be stuck for spoken to be unable to think or to find something that you need to have  (If you're stuck for a babysitter, Alison's always free.) 12 stick in your throat BrE /stick in your craw AmE a) if a situation or someone's behaviour sticks in your throat, it is so annoying that you cannot accept it b) if words stick in your throat, you are unable to say what you want 13 »NAME« if a name that someone has invented sticks, people continue to use it  (One newspaper dubbed him `Eddie the Eagle' and the name stuck.) 14 »CARD GAME« to decide not to take any more cards in some card games  (I'm sticking.) 15 can't stick BrE spoken to dislike someone or something very much  (I can't stick her husband, he's always so rude. | can't stick sb doing sth)  (Lena can't stick anybody reading over her shoulder.)  (- see also stick/poke your nose into nose1 (4)) stick around phr v informal to stay in the same place for a little longer, especially in order to wait for something that you expect to happen  (Stick around, there'll be dancing later.) stick at sth phr v BrE 1 to continue to study or work hard at something in a very determined way  (stick at it)  (Just stick at it and you'll pass your exams easily.) 2 stick at nothing informal to be willing to do anything, even if it is illegal, in order to achieve something  (Des'll stick at nothing to make money.) stick by sb/sth phr v 1 to continue to give your support to a friend who has problems  (Samuel promised to stick by her, whatever happened.) 2 to do what you said you would do or what you think you should do  (stick by a decision/promise etc) stick sth on sb phr v informal to prove or make it seem that someone is guilty of a crime  (They can't stick it on me - I wasn't even in the country at the time.) stick out phr v 1 »COME UP OR FORWARD« if a part of something sticks out, it comes out further than the rest of a surface or comes out through a hole  (Francis wore glasses and his front teeth stuck out. | stick out of/from/through)  (Careful - there's a nail sticking out of that board.) 2 »PUT STH OUT« T stick something out) to deliberately make part of your body come forward or out from the rest of your body  (Carl stuck his leg out and tripped the man up. | stick your tongue out (=show your tongue in order to be rude to someone)) 3 stick it out to continue to the end of an activity that is difficult, painful, or boring  (The movie was really boring but we stuck it out.) 4 stick out like a sore thumb informal to look very unsuitable and different from everyone or everything around  (I'm not going to the party dressed like this, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.) 5 it sticks out a mile informal used to say that a fact about someone's character or feelings is very clear and easily noticed  (It always sticks out a mile when Jenny doesn't like someone, she just can't hide her feelings.) 6 stick your neck out informal to give your opinion about something when you know there is a risk that you may be wrong or that people may disagree with you stick out for sth phr v informal to refuse to accept less than what you asked for  (The unions are sticking out for a higher pay offer.) stick to sth phr v 1 »PROMISE/BELIEF« to do or keep doing what you said you would do or what you believe in  (Just make a decision and stick to it. | stick to your decision/principles etc)  (We have stuck to our election promises.) 2 »CONTINUE WITH SAME THING« to keep using or doing one particular thing and not change to anything else  (If you're driving, stick to soft drinks. | Reporters should stick to investigating the facts.) 3 stick to it to continue to work or study in a very determined way in order to achieve something  (I hated practising, but I stuck to it and now I can play pretty well.) 4 stick to the point/subject/facts to talk only about what you are supposed to be talking about or what is certain  (We'll never finish this meeting if people don't stick to the point.) 5 stick to the path/road etc to stay on a marked path or road so that you do not get lost 6 stick to the rules informal to do something exactly according to the rules 7 stick to your guns informal to refuse to change your mind about something even though other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong 8 That's my story and I'm sticking to it. spoken used to say that you are not going to change any part of what you have already said stick together phr v informal if people stick together, they continue to support one another even when they have problems  (If we stick together we've got a better chance.) stick up phr v 1 if a part of something sticks up, it is raised up or points upward above a surface  (His hair stuck up as though he hadn't had time to comb it.) + from/out of/through etc  (We could just see part of the boat sticking up out of the water.) 2 stick `em up slang used to tell someone to raise their hands when threatening them with a gun stick up for sb phr v informal to defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them  (At least my friends stuck up for me. | stick up for yourself)  (She's always known how to stick up for herself.) stick with sb/sth phr v informal 1 to stay close to someone  (If you don't want to get lost, you'd better stick with me.) 2 to continue doing or using something the way you did or planned to do before  (Let's stick with the original arrangements.) 3 to continue doing something, especially something difficult  (stick with it)  (Stick with it and you'll win through in the end.) 4 informal to remain in someone's memory  (One thing he said then has stuck with me ever since.) ~2 n 1 »FROM A TREE« a long thin piece of wood that has fallen or been cut from a tree 2 »FOR WALKING« a long thin piece of wood or metal that you use to help you walk  (- see also cane1 (1)) 3 »SPORT« a long thin piece of wood that you use for hitting the ball in sports such as hockey 4 »FOR HITTING SB« a long thin piece of wood that you use to hit someone or something 5 stick of celery/dynamite etc a long thin piece of celery etc 6 get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick spoken to misunderstand one small thing that makes you misunderstand everything about a particular situation 7 give sb stick BrE spoken to criticize someone for something they have done, sometimes in a humorous way 8 (out) in the sticks very far from a town or city  (They live somewhere out in the sticks.) 9 »CAR« AmE informal a stick shift 10 up sticks BrE spoken if you up sticks, you move to a different area or house  (He'd upped sticks and moved to London.) 11 old stick BrE old-fashioned used to describe someone in a friendly way  (Ned's a good old stick.)