sharp end of the stick

7.2

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

noun

: punto afilado del palo

He accidentally poked himself with the sharp end of the stick while walking through the woods.

Examples

The sharp end of the stick can easily pierce through fabric.
The sharp end of the stick made it easy to draw lines in the dirt.
Be careful with the sharp end of the stick when cleaning up the branches.
Be careful with the sharp end of the stick!
He accidentally poked himself with the sharp end of the stick while walking through the woods.
The sharp end of the stick made it easy to draw lines in the dirt.
Be careful with the sharp end of the stick when cleaning up the branches.

Synonyms

point

vssharp end of the stick

550 1.0

The sharp end of something like a knife or mountain

is the tip of a narrow wooden object used to pierce or cut

sharp end

vssharp end of the stick

1 6.0

The pointed, dangerous part of a thing or the most risky part of a situation

is only the literal tip of a wooden shaft that can pierce or cut

spearpoint

vssharp end of the stick

1 6.6

A pointed metal or stone tip of a spear

is the tip of a plain wooden shaft rather than a made weapon head

How Pointed

to needle

2 5.3

sharp end of the stick

7.2

Surface Forms

sharp end of the stick singular

sharp ends of the stick plural

Morphology

sharp + end + of + the + stick

This phrase is fully compositional: 'sharp' modifies 'end' and 'of the stick' specifies which end, so the meaning 'the pointed part of a stick' is directly derivable from the constituent words and standard English noun-phrase structure. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift and equivalent structures exist in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will understand it.

Etymology

Sharp end of the stick comes from the real pointed part of a stick that can poke or cut. The sharp end is the bit that does the work or can hurt, so the phrase means 'the pointed part' of something.