Stick up
verb
To rob a person or place, often at gunpoint.
The masked man decided to stick up the local bank.
Often appears as...
- stick up a bank
- stick up a store
Usage tips
Colloquial, Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Crime Vocabulary
The phrase 'stick up' implies a serious crime and is often used in news reports or crime dramas.
Did you hear about the stick up at the gas station last night?
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Saying
'Stick up' originated in old Western movies, where bandits would rob people or trains.
They played cops and robbers, shouting 'This is a stick up!' just like in old movies.
Pro Tip 3/3Forceful Connotation
Using 'stick up' can imply force or threat, especially with a weapon involved.
The thieves were arrested for attempting to stick up several stores.
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