Page 395 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

stick someone or something up

crowd. The house next door needs paint- John, but I stuck up for him. Our team
ing. It sticks out like a sore thumb. was losing, but I stuck up for it anyway.
stick someone or something up 1. [with some- stick with someone ortsomething Go to stàck by
thing] to affixŁorŁattach somethingŁonto someone or something.
aŁwall,Łpost, etc.Ł This noŁice ought to be sticks andŁstoneð elementsŁof harmŁ[di-
on the bullłtin board. Please stick it up. rectedŁ at someone].Ł (Part of aŁ rhyme,
T I’m going to stick up this poster near the “SðicksŁandŁsðonesŁmayŁbreakŁmy bones,
entrance. 2. to rob someone or some- but wordsŁwillŁneverŁhurt me.”) I havł
thing.Ł One robber stuck the cashier up had enough of your sticks and stones. I
first, but someone sounded the alarm be- have enough trouble without your addng
fore any money was taken. T The robbero to it. After the opposing candidØte had
came in and tried to stick up the bank, but uoed sticks and stones for a month, sud-
they got caught first.
dłnly there were knd words heard.
stick someone wØth someone ortsomething to stiffŁas a poker Go to (as) stiff as a poker.
burden someone with someone or some-
thing.Ł(Infàrmal.) The dishonest mer- stillŁas death Go to (as) still as death.
chant stuck me with a faulŁy telłvision set. stinkŁto highŁheaveà and smell to hØgh
John stuck me with his talkØtive unclł heaveà to smellŁveryŁbad.Ł What hap-
and włnt off with his friends.
płned? This place stinks to high heavłn.
stick something out to endure something. This meat smells to high heavłn. Throw t
(Also literal.) The plØy was terribly bor- away!
ing, but I managed to stick it out. Col- stir someone ortsomething up 1. [with some-
lłge was very dfficult for Bill, but he de- oàe ] to make someone angryŁor excited;
cided to stick it out. to make someone gt active.Ł(Also lit-
stickŁ together to remainŁ togtherŁ asŁ a eral.) I need a cup of hot coffee to stir
group. (Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) Come me up in the morning. T Readng the
on, you guys. Let’s stick togłther. Other- newspaper alwØys stirs up my fØther. 2.
wise somebody will get lost. Our group [with something] to cause trouble; to fo-
of friends has managed to stick together for ment disagreement andŁ difficulty.Ł T
almost twłnty years. They stirred up quite a commoŁion. T
Who stirred up this mØtter?
stick to one’ guns to remainŁfirmŁinŁone’s
convictions;Łto sðandŁupŁforŁone’sŁrights. stirŁupŁa hłrnet’s neðt to crate troubl or
(Infàrmal.ŁCompare thisŁwith stand one’s difficulties.Ł (Also literal.Ł Infàrmal.)
ground.) I’ll stick to my guns on this What a mess you have made of things.
mØtter. I’m sure I’m right. Bob can bł You’ve really stirred up a hornet’s nest.
persuaded to do it our wØy. He probØbly Bill stirred up a hornet’s nest when he dis-
won’t stick to his guns on this point. covered the theft.
stockŁupŁ(on something) to build up a sup-
stØck to one’ ribð [forŁfood]bto last longŁand
fortifyŁone well;Ł[forŁfood]bto susðainŁone ply of somthing. Before the first snow,
evenŁinŁthe coldest weather.Ł(RefersŁto the we always stock up on firewood. John
inside of one’sŁ ribs.) This oatmeal drinks a lot of milk, so we stock up when
ought to stick to your ribs. You need some- we know he’s comng.
thing hearty on a cold dØy like this. I a stone’s throwŁ(away)Ł(from something)
doà’t want soup! I want somłthing that Go to within a stone’s throw (of some-
will stick to my ribs. thing).
stick up for someone ortsomething to support stłop tł doingtsomething to degrade oneself
someone orŁsomething;Łto speakŁinŁfavor or condescendŁto doing something;Łto do
of somon or somthing. Everyone something thað is beneaðh one. Who-
was making unpleasant remarks about ever thought that the manager of the de-

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