Flashcards based on "Idioms with 'stick' to learn" set

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get on the stick

Categories: informal slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
[get on the stick]  {v. phr.},  {slang},  {informal}
To get moving; to stop being idle and to start working vigorously.
All right, man, let's get on the stick!
Compare: [ON THE BALL], [GET OFF ONE'S TAIL].
Categories: informal slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick-in-the-mud

Categories: informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[stick-in-the-mud]  {n.},  {informal}
An overcareful person; someone who is old-fashioned and fights change.
Mabel said her mother was a real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that she must be home by 10 o'clock on weeknights and 11:30 Saturdays.
Mr. Thomas is a stick-in-the-mud who plows with mules; he won't buy a tractor.
Categories: informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick around

Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[stick around]  {v.},  {informal}
To stay or wait nearby.
John's father told him to stick around and they would go fishing.
After work Mr. Harris stuck around to ride home with his friend.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick with

Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[stick with]  {v.},  {informal}
1. or [stay with]
To continue doing; not quit.
Fred stayed with his homework until it was done.
Practicing is tiresome, but stick with it and some day you will be a good pianist.
Compare: [STICK TO].
2. To stay with; not leave.
Stick with me until we get out of the crowd.
For two months Bill's boss could not pay his salary, but Bill stuck with him because he thought the company would soon succeed.
3. To sell (someone) something poor or worthless; cheat.
Father said that the man in the store tried to stick him with a bad TV set.
4. To leave (someone) with (something unpleasant); force to do or keep something because others cannot or will not. — Usually used in the passive.
When Harry and I went to the store to buy ice cream cones, Harry ran out with his cone without paying and I was stuck with paying for it.
Mary didn't wash the dishes before she left so I'm stuck with it.
Mr. Jones bought a house that is too big and expensive, but now he's stuck with it.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick out

Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[stick out]  {v.}
1a. To stand out from a wall or other surface; project; extend.
The limb stuck out from the trunk of the tree.
1b. To be seen or noticed more easily or quickly than others; be noticeable.
My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks out and you can't miss it.
Mary plays basketball very well. The others on the team are good, but she really sticks out.
1c. Often used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb.
John is so shy and awkward that he sticks out like a sore thumb.
Syn.: [STAND OUT].
2.  {informal}
To keep on doing something until it is done no matter how long, hard, or unpleasant.
Bill is not a fast runner and he doesn't have a chance of winning the marathon, but he will stick out the race even if he finishes last.
- Often used in the phrase "stick it out".
Mathematics is hard, but if you stick it out you will understand it.
Compare: [HANG ON] (2), [STICK WITH] (1).
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick together

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
[stick together]  {v.}
To remain close together in a situation.
Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost.
The gang stuck together after the game.
Bill and Bob stick together in a game or in a fight.
Syn.: [HANG TOGETHER] (1).
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick by one

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[stick by one]  {v. phr.}
To support; remain loyal to.
All of Peter's friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has been said about him in the press.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick with

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[stick with]  {v. phr.}
To unfairly thrust upon; encumber one with.
In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it was supposed to be Dutch treat.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stick out like a sore thumb

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[stick out like a sore thumb]  {v. phr.}
To be conspicuous; be different from the rest.
When the foreign student was placed in an advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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stand up for

Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
[stand up for] or  {informal} [stick up for]  {v.}
To defend against attack; fight for.
John always stands up for his rights.
When Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her.
Compare:
[BACK UP],
[GO TO BAT FOR],
[STAND BY],
[STAND ONE'S GROUND],
[STICK TO ONE'S GUNS],
[GO TO BAT FOR].
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms