3 → see also carrot and stick
4 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A stick is a long thin piece of wood which is used for a particular purpose. □ …kebab sticks. □ …lolly sticks. □ …drum sticks.
5 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] Some long thin objects that are used in sports are called sticks . □ …lacrosse sticks. □ …hockey sticks. □ …ski-sticks.
6 N‑COUNT [n N ] A stick of something is a long thin piece of it. □ [+ of ] …a stick of celery. □ …cinnamon sticks.
7 N‑UNCOUNT If you give someone some stick , you criticize them or tease them roughly. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ It's not motorists who give you the most stick, it's the general public. □ I get some stick from the lads because of my faith but I don't mind.
8 N‑PLURAL If you say that someone lives in the sticks , you mean that they live a long way from any large cities. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He lived out in the sticks somewhere.
9 PHRASE If someone gets the wrong end of the stick or gets hold of the wrong end of the stick , they do not understand something correctly and get the wrong idea about it. [INFORMAL ]
➋ stick ◆◆◇ /st I k/ (sticks , sticking , stuck )
→ Please look at category 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you stick something somewhere, you put it there in a rather casual way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] He folded the papers and stuck them in his desk drawer. □ [V n prep/adv] Jack opened his door and stuck his head out.
2 VERB If you stick a pointed object in something, or if it sticks in something, it goes into it or through it by making a cut or hole. □ [V n + in/into/through ] Some punk stuck a knife in her last night. □ [V n + in/into/through ] The soldiers went at once to the mound and began to stick their bayonets through it. □ [V + in ] The knife stuck in the ground at his feet.
3 VERB If something is sticking out from a surface or object, it extends up or away from it. If something is sticking into a surface or object, it is partly in it. □ [V adv/prep] They lay where they had fallen from the crane, sticking out of the water. □ [V adv/prep] His hair sticks up in half a dozen directions. □ [V adv/prep] …when we see her with lots of tubes and needles sticking into her little body.
4 VERB If you stick one thing to another, you attach it using glue, sticky tape, or another sticky substance. □ [V n prep] We just stuck it to the window. □ [V n with adv] He has nowhere to stick up his posters. □ [V n with adv] Stick down any loose bits of flooring.
5 VERB If one thing sticks to another, it becomes attached to it and is difficult to remove. □ [V + to ] Peel away the waxed paper if it has stuck to the bottom of the cake. □ [V together ] If left to stand, cooked pasta sticks together.
6 VERB If something sticks in your mind, you remember it for a long time. □ [V + in ] There was one journey that particularly sticks in my mind.
7 VERB If something which can usually be moved sticks , it becomes fixed in one position. □ [V ] The needle on the dial went right round to fifty, and there it stuck.
8 → see also stuck
9 to stick in your throat → see throat
▸ stick around PHRASAL VERB If you stick around , you stay where you are, often because you are waiting for something. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] Stick around a while and see what develops. [Also V P n]
▸ stick at PHRASAL VERB If you stick at a task or activity, you continue doing it, even if it is difficult. □ [V P n] You will find it hard at first, but stick at it.
▸ stick by
1 PHRASAL VERB If you stick by someone, you continue to give them help or support. □ [V P n] …friends who stuck by me during the difficult times as Council Leader.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you stick by a promise, agreement, decision, or principle, you do what you said you would do, or do not change your mind. □ [V P n] But I made my decision then and stuck by it.
▸ stick out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you stick out part of your body, you extend it away from your body. □ [V P n] She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him. □ [V n P ] He stuck his hand out and he said, 'Good evening.'
2 to stick your neck out → see neck
3 PHRASAL VERB If something sticks out , it is very noticeable because it is unusual. □ [V P + from ] What had Cutter done to make him stick out from the crowd?
4 to stick out a mile → see mile
5 to stick out like a sore thumb → see thumb
6 PHRASE If someone in an unpleasant or difficult situation sticks it out , they do not leave or give up. □ I really didn't like New York, but I wanted to stick it out a little bit longer.
▸ stick to
1 PHRASAL VERB If you stick to something or someone when you are travelling, you stay close to them. □ [V P n] There are interesting hikes inland, but most ramblers stick to the clifftops.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you stick to something, you continue doing, using, saying, or talking about it, rather than changing to something else. □ [V P n] Perhaps he should have stuck to writing.