stick

B1 · Intermediate

v. to become fixed in one position so that you cannot move.

v. to become lodged or jammed in a particular position, preventing further motion.

日本語:つかえる※

Español:atascarse

“The key got stuck in the lock and I couldn't turn it.”

“The heavy cargo ship became stuck in the narrow canal, causing a massive delay for dozens of other vessels waiting to pass through.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to put something in a place quickly or without much care.

v. to place or set something down in a casual, hurried, or careless manner.

“Just stick your bags in the corner and come have some tea.”

“He decided to stick the extra files in the bottom drawer, hoping he wouldn't need to look at them again for several months.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to stay with an idea, a plan, or a person and not change.

v. to remain loyal or persistent; frequently used in the phrasal verb 'stick to' or 'stick with'.

“If you stick to your diet, you will see results in a few weeks.”

“Despite the initial setbacks, the team decided to stick with their original strategy rather than switching to a riskier alternative.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to push a sharp object into something.

v. to pierce or poke something with a pointed object.

Español:clavar

“Be careful not to stick your finger with that needle.”

“The chef used a small wooden skewer to stick the meat and vegetables together before placing them on the grill.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a long, thin piece of wood that has fallen from a tree.

n. a branch or shoot of a tree or shrub that has been cut or broken off.

“The children spent the afternoon gathering sticks to build a small fire.”

“The hiker used a sturdy fallen stick to help maintain his balance while navigating the slippery rocks near the stream.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a long, thin piece of something, like butter, gum, or glue.

n. a quantity of a substance formed into a slender, roughly cylindrical or rectangular shape.

“The recipe calls for one stick of butter and two cups of sugar.”

“She always kept a stick of lip balm in her pocket to prevent her skin from drying out during the winter months.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun British English · Informal

n. severe criticism or verbal abuse.

n. harsh criticism or punishment; often used in the phrase 'to get stick'.

“The goalkeeper got a lot of stick from the fans after he missed the ball.”

“The politician took a fair amount of stick from the press after his controversial comments were leaked to the public.”

C1 · Advanced Plural noun Informal

n. a place that is far away from any town or city.

n. rural areas far from cities or urban centres; almost always used as 'the sticks'.

“I grew up out in the sticks, so moving to London was a huge change.”

“They decided to sell their apartment and move out to the sticks to enjoy a quieter pace of life near the mountains.”