When many people are learning English, they will come across a word that seems simple but is actually easily used incorrectly: "stick". When this word is paired with different prepositions, its meaning is very different. Especially in structures such as "stick to doing sth", whether "to" is a preposition or an infinitive symbol often confuses people.
The core of stick to is persistence and following
The "to" in "Stick to" is a preposition, which indicates that it must be followed by a noun or gerund. The key meaning of this phrase is to adhere to a principle, plan or commitment. For example, in a work situation, you have to "stick to the schedule" (obey the schedule), and in life, you can "stick to a healthy diet" (adhere to a healthy diet). What it emphasizes is not making changes easily and maintaining consistency.
Implemented to the level of action, "stick to doing something" means persisting in doing something. For example, if you want to improve your English, you should "stick to practicing every day." The word "practicing" here is a gerund. A common mistake is to regard it as the infinitive of the verb and express it as "stick to practice". This is grammatically incorrect because there is no nominal component after "to".
The origin of stick to one's guns
"Stick to one's guns" is a vivid idiom that literally means "stick to one's guns." It originates from the military field and depicts the scene of soldiers holding on to their guns under enemy fire. This expression has been used since the 18th century to metaphorically stick to one's position, belief, or decision in the face of opposition or pressure.
In daily use, this idiom has a positive connotation and is used to describe a state of determination and courage. For example, during business negotiations, even if the other party exerts great pressure, an excellent negotiator must "stick to his guns" to defend one's own core interests. It does not simply refer to stubbornness, but rather focuses on perseverance supported by correct beliefs.
stick out means conspicuous and prominent
When "stick" and "out" are paired together, the meaning changes to "prominent" or "conspicuous". It can be used to describe a prominent situation on the physical level, such as a stone "sticks out" from the ground; it can also be used to describe a person's prominent situation, such as "sticking out" due to a unique dress in a crowd. This phrase usually carries the connotation of being noticed because you are different.
In a social or business environment, "sticking out" may bring opportunities or risks. For example, a tourist who is too casually dressed will be extremely "stick out" in the professional market and easily become the target of fraud. Therefore, understanding this phrase is helpful for us to determine when we should blend into the environment and when we can appropriately show our personality.
stick it out emphasizes patience to the end
"Stick it out" is a fixed collocation that is used to describe "stick it out" in difficult, unpleasant or boring situations. Here "it" is the object, referring to that difficult situation. This phrase emphasizes endurance and perseverance, not persistence in a certain idea.
This expression is extremely practical. For example, you can use "stick it out through the tough training" to describe getting through a tough training, or use "stick it out until the project is finished" to express persistence until the end of the project. It conveys a determination not to give up easily and to see things through to completion.
The basic meaning of stick: stick and attach
The most basic meaning of "Stick" as a transitive verb is "to stick" or "to attach". It refers to the use of adhesives such as glue to fix one object to another. For example, a child will "stick a poster on the wall". The result of this action is that the two are closely connected and difficult to separate.
This meaning also extends to the non-physical level. For example, there is a nickname "sticks to someone", which means that this nickname always follows him. Another example is that the food "sticks to the pan" refers to sticking to the pan. Understanding this core meaning is helpful for remembering other more abstract combinations because they all cover the concept of "fixed and not separated".
Another action of stick: thrusting and inserting
"Stick" has another common meaning, which means "to pierce" or "to insert". It refers to using a sharp object to poke, pierce something, or penetrate an object. For example, "stick a pin into the map" means to press a pin into the map. This action is active and penetrating. It is different from the sense of attachment produced by the action of "sticking".
This kind of usage is also quite common in life. You might "stick a plug into the socket" or accidentally "stick a finger with a needle." It should be noted that at this level of meaning, "stick" is often used together with prepositions or adverbs indicating position such as "in", "into", and "through" to clarify the position and direction of insertion.
When you are learning or using English, have you ever confused "stick to do" and "stick to doing" and made a joke? I am happy to share your experiences in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please like it and share it with more friends.
