stick
stick — verb
1. to make one thing stay attached to another using glue, tape, or another sticky s
to make one thing stay attached to another using glue, tape, or another sticky substance, or to become attached in this way
Keiko stuck the poster onto her bedroom wall with blue tape.
stick + object + onto + surface
The label will not stick to the plastic jar because it is too oily.
stick to [surface] — intransitive
Tomas used strong glue to stick the broken handle back onto the mug.
Fatima carefully stuck the stamp onto the corner of the envelope.
The wet pages of the book stuck together after water spilled on them.
- detach
To separate something that was stuck or fastened
文法句型
stick + object + to/onto + surface
stick + to + surface
stick + together
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (stick A to B) or intransitively (A sticks to B). The intransitive form often describes the result of a failed or successful attachment.
常見錯誤
2. If a name, a way of thinking, or something you recall sticks, people keep using
If a name, a way of thinking, or something you recall sticks, people keep using it or thinking about it over many years — a childhood nickname that never goes away is one example
The nickname 'Shorty' stuck with him all through high school.
stick with [person] — persist over time
That song's chorus stuck in Aisha's head for days after the concert.
stick in someone's head/memory
The teacher's warning about plagiarism stuck with Bjorn throughout his college years.
A few key lines from the speech stuck in the audience's minds long afterward.
- fade
To gradually disappear from memory or use
文法句型
stick + with + person
stick + in + mind/head
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract noun (name, nickname, tune, phrase, idea, warning). Often followed by 'with + person' or 'in + head/memory'. Distinguish from sense 1 (ATTACH), which involves physical adhesion.
3. to place an item somewhere in a hurried or untidy manner, without arranging it n
to place an item somewhere in a hurried or untidy manner, without arranging it neatly
Olga stuck her keys in her bag and ran out the door.
informal: stick [object] in [location]
Hiroshi just stuck the letter under a pile of books on his desk.
Surya stuck the receipt into his pocket without even looking at it.
Mei-Lin stuck the old photo behind the clock on the shelf.
Javier stuck the invoice in a drawer and forgot about it completely.
- arrange
To put things in a neat or organized way
文法句型
stick + object + preposition + location
用法筆記
Common in informal spoken English. The object is always the item being placed, followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the location. Do not use in formal writing.
常見錯誤
4. used in angry or rude language when you reject something someone is offering you
used in angry or rude language when you reject something someone is offering you and want to make clear you have no interest in it
When Anita saw the low pay offer, she told her boss he could stick the job.
rude refusal pattern: can stick + object
Dmitri said the company could stick its bonus after all the overtime they demanded.
Ling told them to stick their contract — she was not going to sign it.
The customer angrily told the manager where he could stick his refund.
文法句型
can stick + object (you can stick your job)
tell + person + where to stick + object
用法筆記
Highly impolite. Used only in informal angry speech. The pattern 'tell someone where they can stick something' is a fixed, emphatic way to reject an offer. Do not use in any polite or professional context.
5. to thrust a sharp item like a needle, pin, or thorn so that it penetrates a surf
to thrust a sharp item like a needle, pin, or thorn so that it penetrates a surface and stays lodged, or for such an item to enter and remain in a material or body part
Theo carefully stuck the needle into the fabric to sew the button back on.
stick + needle/pointed object + into [material]
Dr. Okafor stuck the syringe into the rubber top of the medicine bottle.
A long thorn stuck into Kai's finger when he reached for the rose bush.
The nurse stuck the pin through the paper to keep the documents together.
Zara screamed when a piece of glass stuck into her foot on the beach.
- withdraw
To pull a pointed object back out
文法句型
stick + sharp object + into/through + material/body part
stick + into + body part (intransitive)
用法筆記
Both transitive (someone sticks an object into something) and intransitive (a pointed object sticks into something) are common. In the intransitive form, the subject is the sharp object, not the person.
常見錯誤
6. In card games such as blackjack, to choose not to receive any more cards and kee
In card games such as blackjack, to choose not to receive any more cards and keep the hand you already have
Arun looked at his cards and decided to stick with seventeen.
stick (card games) — choose not to take more cards
The dealer asked Lena if she wanted another card, but she chose to stick.
With a total of nineteen points, Amir thought it was safest to stick.
Two players took extra cards while the rest decided to stick with their hands.
文法句型
stick (no object)
stick + at/with + number/points
用法筆記
Narrow domain-specific sense used mainly in blackjack and similar card games. The opposite of 'stick' in this context is 'twist' or 'hit' (take another card). Distinguish from sense 3 (STUFF) and sense 2 (PERSIST), which are far more common.
7. to keep dealing with a person, job, or situation that is difficult or annoying,
to keep dealing with a person, job, or situation that is difficult or annoying, without leaving or complaining about it
Apinya finally decided she could not stick the two-hour commute to work anymore.
cannot stick + long noun phrase (the commute)
The new office manager is so rude that several staff say they cannot stick working with her.
cannot stick + -ing form (working with her)
Élise does not understand how Mateo sticks the constant drilling noise from the building site each day.
Mizuki has never been able to stick a nine-to-five desk job for more than a year.
Some residents cannot stick the noise and crowds during the summer festival and choose to leave town.
- tolerate
more formal; neutral register, works in all sentence types
- put up with
same informal register, but naturally used in affirmative statements
- endure
more formal; suggests greater difficulty or suffering
- bear
more formal; commonly used with can/could in questions and negatives
文法句型
cannot/can't stick + noun phrase
cannot/can't stick + -ing form
how + subject + stick + noun phrase
用法筆記
Most common in negative sentences (cannot/can't stick) and questions. Rarely used in affirmative present simple statements ('I stick it'). The phrasal verb 'stick it out' is a related expression meaning to endure a difficult situation until the end.
常見錯誤
stick — noun
1. a narrow length of wood that has come from a tree or bush, either by breaking of
a narrow length of wood that has come from a tree or bush, either by breaking off naturally or being cut for a particular use.
Bilal picked up a long stick from the ground to poke at the campfire.
The gardener used a short wooden stick to support the tomato plant.
collocation: wooden stick / garden stick
Kofi collected dry sticks from the forest floor to build a small shelter.
Élise found a fallen branch and broke it into smaller sticks for the fire.
The dog ran after a stick that Hao threw across the park.
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives describing size or material, such as 'long', 'short', 'wooden', or 'metal'.
常見錯誤
2. a long thin pole, often made of wood, that a person holds in their hand while wa
a long thin pole, often made of wood, that a person holds in their hand while walking to help keep their balance or support their weight.
Apinya leaned on her walking stick as she climbed the steep hill.
The elderly man tapped his stick on the pavement before crossing the road.
collocation: walking stick
Valentina bought a new wooden stick with a curved handle for her grandfather.
Hikers in the mountains often carry a sturdy stick to help them on rocky paths.
3. a long piece of wood or other material shaped for use in a sport, such as hittin
a long piece of wood or other material shaped for use in a sport, such as hitting, passing, or stopping a ball or puck.
Vivek passed the puck to his teammate with a quick swing of his hockey stick.
collocation: hockey stick
The coach handed each player a new lacrosse stick before the match began.
Jack broke his hockey stick during the final game and had to borrow one from a friend.
Defne cleaned her field hockey stick after every practice to keep it in good shape.
- bat
used in baseball, cricket, and table tennis rather than ice/field hockey
用法筆記
The specific sport is usually named before 'stick' (hockey stick, lacrosse stick, field hockey stick). 'Stick' alone can be ambiguous without context.
常見錯誤
4. an item of food or other material that has been cut or formed into a narrow, rod
an item of food or other material that has been cut or formed into a narrow, rod-like shape for use or consumption.
Yael cut the celery into thin sticks and arranged them on a plate.
collocation: celery sticks / carrot sticks
The chef melted a stick of butter in the pan before adding the onions.
collocation: stick of butter
Defne handed each child a stick of chewing gum after lunch.
Caleb bought a stick of French bread from the bakery on his way home.
The teacher used a stick of chalk to write new vocabulary on the board.
- strip
usually flatter and wider than a stick; used for fabric, paper, or land
用法筆記
Common with food nouns: 'celery sticks', 'carrot sticks', 'bread sticks', 'a stick of butter/gum/chalk'. The substance must be something that naturally forms or is cut into a long thin shape.
常見錯誤
5. a car that has a manual transmission system, meaning the driver changes gear usi
a car that has a manual transmission system, meaning the driver changes gear using a hand-operated lever rather than an automatic system.
Christopher learned to drive on a stick and still prefers manual cars.
informal American: 'drive a stick'
Cole traded in his automatic for a used stick because it was cheaper.
The driving instructor asked whether the student wanted to learn on a stick or an automatic.
Eric rented a stick shift for his road trip through the mountains.
- automatic
a car that changes gear by itself
用法筆記
This sense is primarily American English. In British English, a manual car is more commonly called 'a manual'. The full term 'stick shift' is also common.
6. a single item of furniture, such as a chair, table, or cabinet, usually consider
a single item of furniture, such as a chair, table, or cabinet, usually considered as one piece within a room or collection.
Benjamin bought a few sticks of furniture at the second-hand shop.
collocation: stick of furniture
The apartment came completely empty — not a single stick of furniture inside.
negative structure: 'not a single stick of furniture'
The old carpenter carved each stick of furniture by hand with great care.
The only stick of furniture in the room was a small wooden chair by the window.
- piece
more common and neutral; 'a piece of furniture' is the standard expression
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'a stick of furniture' or 'sticks of furniture'. Rarely used alone. Commonly appears in negative or minimal contexts ('not a stick of furniture').
7. to strike someone or something hard with a long piece of wood, usually as a puni
to strike someone or something hard with a long piece of wood, usually as a punishment or to drive away an animal
The farmer stuck the wolf with a heavy branch when it came near the sheep.
stick + direct object + with + instrument
Grandfather told us teachers would stick naughty boys in his school days.
informal register: stick as punishment
The zookeeper grabbed a pole and stuck the lion to keep it from the crowd.
In the old village, a thief could be stuck with a wooden rod as punishment.
文法句型
stick + direct object
stick + direct object + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is informal and less common in modern speech. It typically describes physical punishment or defending against animals. The past tense is 'stuck'.
常見錯誤
8. harsh negative comments directed at a person for something they have done wrong
harsh negative comments directed at a person for something they have done wrong
Devika got some stick from her boss for forgetting to send the report.
get stick from [someone] for [reason]
The football coach took a lot of stick after the team lost five straight games.
take a lot of stick + after/because of [event]
Students gave the new teacher some stick for giving homework over the holiday.
Tendai took plenty of stick from friends for wearing an old suit to the dance.
- praise
positive opposite — approval instead of criticism
文法句型
get stick
give someone stick
take stick
用法筆記
Always used in fixed phrases — 'get/give/take stick' — never as a standalone countable noun. The phrase 'take stick' means to receive criticism; 'give someone stick' means to criticize them.
常見錯誤
9. a rural region located far from populated areas such as cities and large towns,
a rural region located far from populated areas such as cities and large towns, often lacking modern services
The Watanabe family lives out in the sticks, miles from the nearest grocery shop.
out in the sticks — fixed phrase for remoteness
After ten years in the city, Christopher moved to the sticks and opened a farm.
The band grew up in the sticks and drove three hours to reach every concert.
Lan struggled to get reliable internet out in the sticks where she spent her summers.
- boondocks
American informal slang; similar meaning, more dismissive
- backwoods
remote forested area; slightly more specific to wooded regions
- middle of nowhere
emphasizes isolation rather than rural character
文法句型
the sticks
out in the sticks
用法筆記
Almost always appears as 'the sticks' (plural) or in the phrase 'out in the sticks.' The singular 'a stick' never refers to a place. The expression often carries a slightly humorous or dismissive tone about rural simplicity.