sticky
sticky — adjective
1. covered with or containing a glue-like substance that causes things to attach to
covered with or containing a glue-like substance that causes things to attach to it when they touch it
Aylin's hands were sticky after she ate the honey-covered bread.
collocation: sticky hands / sticky fingers
Christopher used sticky tape to fasten the gift box for mailing.
collocation: sticky tape
The old wooden table had a sticky patch where soda had spilled the night before.
Dario wiped the sticky jam off the kitchen counter with a wet cloth.
Be careful — the paint is still sticky, so do not touch the wall.
- adhesive
more technical; used for products designed to stick, like tape or glue
- tacky
slightly sticky, often used for paint or varnish that has not fully dried
- gluey
thick and sticky like glue, often with a negative connotation
- gooey
thick, soft, and sticky — commonly used for food like melted cheese or chocolate
文法句型
sticky + noun
be + sticky
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe food spills, glue, paint, tape, and bodily substances like sweat or honey.
常見錯誤
2. describes weather or air that is uncomfortably hot and damp, so that the skin fe
describes weather or air that is uncomfortably hot and damp, so that the skin feels wet and clothes may cling to the body
The weather in Taipei was so sticky that Yan's shirt stuck to her back.
During the sticky summer months, the Watanabe family stayed indoors with the air conditioner on.
collocation: sticky summer
The sticky heat of the crowded train station made Ishaan feel uncomfortable.
It was a sticky afternoon, so Tunde took a cold shower after his run.
On that sticky evening, Nikhil opened all the windows to let in some fresh air.
文法句型
sticky + noun (weather, summer, heat)
be + sticky (of weather)
用法筆記
Commonly used in informal speech to describe summer weather in tropical or subtropical regions. More specific than 'hot' because it combines temperature and humidity.
常見錯誤
3. describes a situation, problem, or question that is tough to manage, often becau
describes a situation, problem, or question that is tough to manage, often because it involves embarrassment or the risk of conflict
The manager was in a sticky situation when two team members refused to work together.
collocation: sticky situation
Ava's question about the budget was sticky, and no one wanted to answer it directly.
Negotiating the new contract turned into a sticky problem for both sides.
It was a sticky moment when the waiter spilled water on the customer's laptop.
Constanza knew she had to handle the sticky disagreement between her friends carefully.
- tricky
suggests something that requires skill or careful handling, slightly less serious than sticky
- awkward
emphasizes embarrassment or social discomfort
- delicate
needs to be handled with care and sensitivity, more formal
- unpleasant
focuses on the discomfort rather than the difficulty
- easy
simple to handle or resolve
- straightforward
clear and uncomplicated
文法句型
sticky + noun (situation, problem, issue)
be + sticky
用法筆記
Typically used for interpersonal or professional difficulties rather than technical or academic problems. Avoid in formal writing; use 'difficult' or 'delicate' instead.
常見錯誤
4. refusing to change one's position or make allowances, especially about rules, de
refusing to change one's position or make allowances, especially about rules, details, or conditions
The hotel manager was sticky about letting guests check in before three o'clock.
pattern: be sticky about [doing something]
Élise's landlord was sticky about the no-pets rule and would not make any exceptions.
Banks can be sticky about approving loans for people without a steady income.
The ticket inspector was sticky about accepting the student discount without a valid ID card.
- strict
more common and neutral; does not carry the informal tone of 'sticky'
- rigid
more negative and formal; suggests an unwillingness to adapt at all
- unyielding
formal; emphasizes firm refusal to compromise
文法句型
be + sticky + about + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Almost always used with the preposition 'about' followed by a noun or gerund. The subject is typically an authority figure or institution in charge of enforcing rules.
5. describes a website, app, shop, or other venue that captures and holds people's
describes a website, app, shop, or other venue that captures and holds people's interest, making them linger rather than leave quickly
The new cooking website is sticky — visitors spend an average of twenty minutes on it.
The Zhongxiao East Road boutique feels sticky with its friendly staff and cozy lighting.
Game companies design sticky apps that keep players coming back every day.
A good online store should feel sticky enough that customers browse several pages before leaving.
- engaging
more general, not limited to time spent; can describe any interesting content or experience
- addictive
stronger and more negative; suggests users cannot stop, sometimes with harmful outcomes
- compelling
more formal; describes content that strongly holds attention
- forgettable
not interesting enough to keep people's attention
- boring
causing people to leave quickly
文法句型
sticky + noun (website, app, shop)
be + sticky
用法筆記
Common in technology and marketing contexts. In digital analytics, 'stickiness' is a measurable metric — how often users return and how long they stay.
常見錯誤
6. describes educational content or experiences that students remember well over ti
describes educational content or experiences that students remember well over time, as if the knowledge stays attached in their memory
The teacher used songs and games to make the vocabulary lessons sticky for her students.
Educational videos that tell a story are more sticky than plain textbook chapters.
collocation: sticky learning
The science museum's hands-on exhibits create sticky learning experiences for children.
A good language app makes grammar rules sticky by repeating them in different contexts.
- memorable
more general and neutral; does not imply the content was designed to be remembered
- unforgettable
stronger; so impressive that it cannot be forgotten
- forgettable
easy to forget, not making an impression
文法句型
sticky + noun (learning, content, lesson)
be + sticky
用法筆記
Borrowed from the marketing concept of 'stickiness' and applied to education. Often used by teachers and educational content designers, not in everyday conversation.
sticky — noun
1. a little rectangular sheet of paper that has an adhesive strip along one edge, d
a little rectangular sheet of paper that has an adhesive strip along one edge, designed for jotting short messages and temporarily fixing them onto desks, walls, or monitors
Élise left a sticky on her monitor to remind herself about the meeting.
The office desk was covered in yellow stickies with phone numbers and to-do lists.
often plural: stickies
Mira wrote down the Wi-Fi password on a sticky and attached it to the fridge.
The teacher handed out colorful stickies for the students to write their answers on.
- sticky note
the full, more formal version of the same item
- Post-it note
brand name often used generically, capitalized
文法句型
a sticky
stickies
用法筆記
A shortened form of 'sticky note' or 'Post-it note'. More common in informal workplace and classroom settings. The plural 'stickies' is common.