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stick

stick

34 7.2
A threat of punishment used to make people obey
  • noun
  • /stɪk/
translation icon : castigo
  • In negotiations, you will often find that a balance of sticks and carrots yields the best results.
  • carrot and stick
  • carrot-and-stick policy
  • carrot-and-stick approach

You need to be able to have carrots and sticks for both of them.

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Examples

  • So the government has the stick, they have the carrot.

  • You need to be able to have carrots and sticks for both of them.

  • Look, I'm negotiating with a carrot and stick approach.

  • The congressional majority reacted to these issues with a "carrot and stick" set of policies.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Unconditional engagement is all carrots, no sticks; unconditional disengagement, all sticks, no carrots.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The manager used the stick approach when employees repeatedly ignored the new policy.

  • The teacher decided to use a stick for encouraging students to follow the rules in class.

Synonyms

cane
vsstick
  • NSFW
29 7.7

A long thin stick used to punish someone at school

focuses on coercion by warning of penalty rather than physical beating
big stick
vsstick
3 6.9

A show of force used to make others do what you want

is specifically a threat of punishment rather than general power display

Antonyms

carrot
  • Informal
42 3.5

A promise of a reward to encourage someone to act

Idioms

To take a risk by saying or doing something that may get you in trouble

12 6.7

Keep supporting your idea when others disagree

8 7.1

To get a worse or unfair result than others

stick in the mud
  • Offensive
6 8.1

A person who does not like change or try new things

4 9.8

To openly oppose people in power to cause them trouble

To finish a jump or move smoothly without falling

3 9.9

To feel angry or bitter about something unfair that you cannot forget

stick-in-the-mud
  • Offensive
1 8.3

A person who does not like new things or change

1 9.7

To start working hard without delay

1 6.5

To be filling and keep you full for a long time

1 9.9

To call someone ugly as a joke

Stay alert and ready to move, like resting a hockey stick on the ice

To say or do something embarrassing by accident

1 9.4

Say or do something on purpose to hurt someone who is already in trouble

Give full attention to your own work and skills, not other people's tasks

Push away a lot of people or fans as a joke about being too popular

9.9

A person or thing that looks very ugly, said as a joke

Christ on a stick
  • Offensive
9.9

A short shocked cry showing disbelief about something ridiculous

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

To end up by chance with an unpleasant task or in a worse position

A joking way to say something is very unpleasant or painful

To want something that is impossible or not realistic

To ask for everyone to have an equal chance

An equal chance to be treated the same as others

To look much less attractive after a sudden change

To let strong, uncontrolled feelings make your life worse

9.9

Very weak and cannot help or lead

9.9

To be given unfair, unpleasant tasks or treatment

9.9

To suddenly understand something you should have noticed earlier

To explain something clearly so someone finally understands

A shout people say when they are very surprised or do not believe something

An impossible thing that someone asks for

To create problems for yourself later

9.9

To become involved in a messy situation and make it worse

To have sex or start a romantic relationship with someone who is emotionally unstable and likely to cause trouble

8.6

To get involved in other people's business when they do not ask for help

Only work in the area you know well

To follow prepared words when speaking without adding new ideas

Compounds

18 1.0

A long thin piece of fish covered in breadcrumbs and fried or baked

A stick used to support a person while walking

8 1.2

A long stick with a curved blade that players use to hit a puck

8 2.6

A very simple drawing of a person using a circle for the head and lines for body, arms and legs

7 1.3

A thin piece of raw carrot eaten as a snack

5 4.0

A car transmission you operate with a gear stick and clutch pedal

5 4.6

A toy with a pole, foot rests, and a strong spring that you jump up and down on

A small stick for stirring drinks like cocktails in a glass

3 6.9

A show of force used to make others do what you want

A long rod with marks for measuring length

hockey stick
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A graph shape that stays flat over time then rises quickly

2 1.3

A long thin piece of celery that people eat raw as a snack or in salads

1 3.8

A long, thin stick used to hit the white ball in pool and billiards

1 8.1

A hollow tube with small stones inside that makes a rain sound when tilted

1 3.2

A long thin wooden tool that you use to hit the white ball in pool or billiards

control stick
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A lever a pilot uses to move a plane up, down, left, and right

1 5.6

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

ugly stick
  • Offensive
1 9.3

A person or thing that looks very unattractive, often said as a joke

Pieces of grilled chicken on a wooden stick sold as a quick snack

1 8.2

A thin stick of incense burned in temples or homes during prayers

old stick
  • Offensive
1 9.6

A person who prefers the usual way of doing things and does not accept new ideas

1 9.9

A walking stick that hides a long knife inside for use as a weapon

stick horse
  • Baby Talk
1 2.3

A toy with a horse head on a stick that a child pretends to ride

clue stick
  • Slang
9.9

A pretend object used to give someone a very clear hint about something they missed

A small tree or bush with spiny stems and large leaves

A stick that people use instead of a sword for practice

licorice stick
  • Archaic
8.7

A clarinet often used in jazz bands

moxa stick
  • Specialized
9.9

A stick of dried plant leaves that people burn near the skin to give warmth in East Asian medicine

gas on a stick
  • Informal
9.9

A very bad taste or smell that makes you want to spit

A long stick with a head used to hit the ball in polo

swagger stick
  • Archaic
9.8

A short cane carried by army officers to show who is in charge or for ceremonies

A curved stick that comes back to the thrower when thrown correctly

A curved wooden tool that comes back to the thrower when thrown correctly

A wooden tool used to throw a spear farther and faster

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

A walking stick with a small folding seat for sitting at outdoor events

A single stick that makes a camera steady for sharper photos

size stick
  • Specialized
7.5

A measuring tool used by shoe sellers to measure foot length and width

A dried rolled piece of cinnamon bark used to add warm spice to food

stick lac
  • Indian
9.9

A dried natural resin scraped from twigs before processing

stick moxa
  • Specialized
9.5

A stick made from dried mugwort leaves that therapists burn near the skin for traditional heat therapy

walking stick
  • Specialized
6.0

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

How Severe

punishment
720 1.3
sanction
  • Formal
577 6.1
stick
34 7.2
warning
1.0

Surface Forms

stick singular
sticks plural

Etymology

Stick meaning a threat or punishment comes from the simple tool: a real stick used to hit or punish someone. So 'the stick' became the idea of a penalty used to force people to obey, opposite the 'carrot' reward.