3 PHRASAL VERB If you stick to a promise, agreement, decision, or principle, you do what you said you would do, or do not change your mind. □ [V P n] Immigrant support groups are waiting to see if he sticks to his word. □ [V P n] But one problem is that few people can stick to a diet for long.
4 to stick to your guns → see gun
5 PHRASAL VERB If you stick to rules, you do what they say you must do. □ [V P n] Obviously we are disappointed but the committee could do nothing less than stick to the rules. □ [V P n] Police must stick to the highest standards if they are to win back public confidence.
▸ stick together PHRASAL VERB If people stick together , they stay with each other and support each other. □ [V P ] If we all stick together, we ought to be okay.
▸ stick up for PHRASAL VERB If you stick up for a person or a principle, you support or defend them forcefully. □ [V P P n] I can stick up for myself.
▸ stick with
1 PHRASAL VERB If you stick with something, you do not change to something else. □ [V P n] They prefer, in the end, to stick with what they know.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you stick with someone, you stay close to them. □ [V P n] She pulled the woman to her side saying: 'You just stick with me, dear.'
stick|er /st I kə r / (stickers )
1 N‑COUNT A sticker is a small piece of paper or plastic, with writing or a picture on one side, which you can stick onto a surface.
2 → see also bumper sticker
sti ck|ing plas|ter (sticking plasters ) N‑VAR Sticking plaster is material that you can stick over a cut or wound in order to protect it. A sticking plaster is a piece of this material. [BRIT ] in AM, use Band-Aid
sti ck|ing point (sticking points ) also sticking-point N‑COUNT [usu sing] A sticking point in a discussion or series of negotiations is a point on which the people involved cannot agree and which may delay or stop the talks. A sticking point is also one aspect of a problem which you have trouble dealing with. □ The main sticking point was the question of taxes.
sti ck in|sect (stick insects ) also stick-insect N‑COUNT A stick insect is an insect with a long body and thin legs. It looks like a small stick.
sti ck-in-the-mud (stick-in-the-muds ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a stick-in-the-mud , you disapprove of them because they do not like doing anything that is new or fun. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
stickle|back /st I k ə lbæk/ (sticklebacks ) N‑COUNT A stickleback is a small fish which has sharp points along its back.
stick|ler /st I klə r / (sticklers ) N‑COUNT If you are a stickler for something, you always demand or require it. □ [+ for ] Lucy was a stickler for perfection, and everything had to be exactly right.
sti ck-on ADJ [ADJ n] Stick-on labels, shapes, and objects have a sticky material on one side so that they will stick to things.
sti ck shift (stick shifts ) N‑COUNT A stick shift is the lever that you use to change gear in a car or other vehicle. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use gear lever
sticky /st I ki/ (stickier , stickiest )
1 ADJ A sticky substance is soft, or thick and liquid, and can stick to other things. Sticky things are covered with a sticky substance. □ …sticky toffee. □ If the dough is sticky, add more flour. □ Peel away the sticky paper.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sticky situation involves problems or is embarrassing. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Inevitably the transition will yield some sticky moments.
3 ADJ Sticky weather is unpleasantly hot and damp. □ …four desperately hot, sticky days in the middle of August.
sti cky ta pe N‑UNCOUNT Sticky tape is clear sticky tape that is sold in rolls and that you use, for example, to stick paper or card together, or to stick things onto a wall. [BRIT ] in AM, use Scotch tape
stiff /st I f/ (stiffer , stiffest )
1 ADJ Something that is stiff is firm or does not bend easily. □ His waterproof trousers were brand new and stiff. □ Clean the mussels with a stiff brush under cold running water. ● stiff|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ Moira sat stiffly upright in her straight-backed chair.
2 ADJ Something such as a door or drawer that is stiff does not move as easily as it should. □ Train door handles are stiff so that they cannot be opened accidentally.
3 ADJ If you are stiff , your muscles or joints hurt when you move, because of illness or because of too much exercise. □ Massage will relieve tension and stiff muscles. □ I'm stiff all over right now–I hope I can recover for tomorrow's race. ● stiff|ly ADV □ He climbed stiffly from the Volkswagen.
4 ADJ Stiff behaviour is rather formal and not very friendly or relaxed. □ They always seemed a little awkward with each other, a bit stiff and formal. ● stiff|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ 'Why don't you borrow your sister's car?' said Cassandra stiffly. □ …a stiffly worded letter of complaint.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Stiff can be used to mean difficult or severe. □ The film faces stiff competition for the Best Film nomination. □ Under the country's stiff anti-corruption laws they could face twenty years in jail.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] A stiff drink is a large amount of a strong alcoholic drink. □ …a stiff whisky.