sticking plaster

American  

noun

1. an adhesive cloth or other material for covering and closing superficial wounds, holding bandages in place, etc.

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sticking plaster British  

noun

1. Usual US term: adhesive tape.  a thin cloth with an adhesive substance on one side, used for covering slight or superficial wounds

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Etymology

Origin of sticking plaster

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

Much of the sector "needs not just a sticking plaster but urgent corrective action", the report said.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Viewed by critics as merely a sticking plaster, there's pressure for authorities to do more.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

"This is really only a sticking plaster when what's required is major surgery," he told the BBC.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025

“Medical explanations have become the sticking plaster we use to help us manage that disappointment.”

From Salon • May 13, 2025

The crack on the back of the ukulele had been neatly mended with sticking plaster and the round hole in the middle was covered by a piece of wood.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers