make stick

Idioms  

1. Make effective or permanent, as in They tried to appeal but our lawyers made the verdict stick. This idiom uses stick in the sense of “adhere.” [First half of 1900s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

make stick

None of these are true, it's merely a diversion, and one that they're going to potentially make stick with trans people.

From Salon ● May 2, 2023

In both cases, the prosecutors pursued not the most serious charge, but the one they could most make stick.

From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2019

Then how is it that so many have found the charge so easy to make, and make stick?

From Time ● Oct. 31, 2016

Brought into the Leeds academy by Stuart Lancaster, the man who now coaches him for England, Care had his next choice to make: stick with his hometown club, or risk sinking in a bigger pond.

From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2014

That's the only threat they could make stick with a man like Tyler.

From Smugglers' Reef by John Blaine

Related Words

• approve
• certify
• confirm
• corroborate
• endorse
• justify
• legalize
• legitimize
• ratify
• substantiate
• verify