World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesStick It to Someone
/stɪk ɪt tuː ˈsʌm.wʌn/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To punish, penalize, or severely mistreat someone, especially by overcharging or taking unfair advantage of them.
"The mechanic really stuck it to me when he billed five hundred dollars for a basic inspection." - 2
To defy, retaliate against, or cause trouble for someone, particularly an authority figure.
"By unionizing, the workers found a way to stick it to the corporate executives."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in American English slang in the mid-20th century, the phrase derives from the physical imagery of thrusting an undesirable burden, spike, or punishment onto an opponent. It grew out of earlier 19th-century colloquial uses of 'stick' meaning to cheat, punish, or penalize someone. The expression gained widespread popularity in 1960s counterculture as an emblem of anti-establishment defiance.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Stick It to Someone"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Stick It to Someone" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
en faire baver à quelqu'un
Transliteration: ahn fehr bah-vay ah kel-kuhn
"Le mécanicien m'a vraiment fait baver avec cette facture."
es jemandem heimzahlen
Transliteration: es yay-man-dem hyme-tsah-len
"Sie wollten es dem Chef endlich heimzahlen."
fargliela pagare a qualcuno
Transliteration: far-lyeh-lah pah-gah-reh ah kwal-koo-noh
"Hanno deciso di fargliela pagare alla direzione."
dársela a alguien
Transliteration: dar-seh-lah ah ahl-gyehn
"El taller mecánico realmente me la dio con ese cobro exorbitante."
ferrar alguém
Transliteration: feh-rahr ahl-gheng
"O mecânico realmente me ferrou com aquela conta."
किसी को सबक सिखाना
Transliteration: kisi ko sabak sikhana
"कर्मचारियों ने प्रबंधन को सबक सिखाने का फैसला किया।"
整治某人
Transliteration: zhěngzhì mǒu rén
"他们决定好好整治一下那个贪婪的老板。"
~에게 골탕을 먹이다
Transliteration: ege goltangeul meogida
"직원들은 상사에게 골탕을 먹이기로 결심했다."
痛い目に遭わせる
Transliteration: itai me ni awaseru
"彼らは会社の上層部に痛い目に遭わせるつもりだ。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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