# stick in the mud

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stick-in-the-mud
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person unwilling to participate in activities; a curmudgeon or party pooper.

## Examples

- Don't be such a stick in the mud and come to the party.
- He refused to join the group for dinner, acting like a total stick in the mud while everyone else wanted to celebrate.
- Despite his friends' enthusiastic plans for the weekend, he remained a stubborn stick in the mud, preferring the quiet isolation of his study to any social engagement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.