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Glite Dictionary
sticking out

sticking out

65 2.9
Coming out past a surface so it can be seen
  • idiom
: saliente
  • The bookshelf was full, with several books sticking out at odd angles.
  • tongue sticking out
  • legs sticking out
  • hair sticking out

That means it also has a White House cover up prong sticking out of it too.

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Examples

  • It's loosened up now, but this is sticking out far too much.

  • As she turned, I noticed that a price tag was sticking out of her shirt collar.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • We're going to have eight other things sticking out over here.

  • Why does he have those long bars sticking out the side of his wheels?

  • But you'll finish with these leaves sticking out like this.

  • Her legs were on the floor, sticking out behind the jukebox.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • A baby dinosaur tries to get out, just its head sticking out of the shell.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • No houses were visible save a few hip roofs sticking out of the lush vegetation, between red flamboyants.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • So now that they're trimmed, I like to just go over them and find those random little hairs that I might have missed that are sticking out too much.

  • I noticed a branch was sticking out from the hedge, making it difficult to walk past.

Synonyms

sticking
vssticking out
139 2.7

Extending beyond a surface, like a nail or piece of paper

is the broader multiword form describing the same outward extension generally
protruding
vssticking out
10 4.2

Sticking out from a surface like a nail or branch

is the more general phrase for outward extension rather than a single verb
jutting
vssticking out
4 4.8

Sticking out from a surface or edge

is the neutral description of outward extension without stressing prominence
projected
vssticking out
3 4.9

A part that sticks out from a surface, like a roof or balcony

is the general phrase for simple outward extension rather than a single term
projecting
vssticking out
2 4.2

Sticks out from a surface or edge

is the broader phrase describing outward extension without focusing on action
protuberant
vssticking out
1 8.4

Sticks out from a surface in a round or curved way

is the simple outward extension without implying a rounded or bulging shape
protrusive
vssticking out
1 7.6

Sticking out from a surface so it is noticed

is the neutral description of outward extension without implying force
overshot
vssticking out
1 7.7

Having an upper part that sticks out over the lower part

is the general outward extension not limited to one part or position

Antonyms

flush
10 6.5

Level with a nearby surface so there is no gap

recessed
5 5.6

Set back into a wall to make a small shelf or seat

How Far

jutting
4 4.8
sticking out
65 2.9
raised
57 1.0

Surface Forms

sticking out positive

Morphology

sticking + out

The meaning 'extending outward beyond a surface' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents: the verb notion 'stick' (project/adhere) combined with the particle 'out' (away from the interior), so the spatial sense is transparent. This verb+particle pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Sticking out comes from the simple picture of something partly pushed outside: part of it is sticking and showing out. So, if a shirt is sticking out from under a sweater, that part goes beyond the sweater and is easy to see, which is why the phrase means 'extending outward'.