Idiom
Stick-in-the-mud
A stick-in-the-mud is a person who is dull, old-fashioned or unwilling to try new things or join in the fun.
How people use it
People use it, often teasingly, for someone who turns down adventures or changes: "Don't be a stick-in-the-mud, come dancing with us." It is a noun, usually with a or such a, and it is normally hyphenated. It is mildly critical but often affectionate between friends and family. It describes an attitude, not an age, though people often use it for older relatives. The tone is informal.
Examples
- My dad is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud; he orders the same meal at every restaurant.
- Don't be a stick-in-the-mud, Ben; try the roller coaster with us.
- Maya worried that leaving the party early made her look like a stick-in-the-mud.
Where it comes from
The image is of something stuck fast in mud, unable to move. In the 1700s it was a mocking nickname for a slow or stubborn person, and by the 1800s stick-in-the-mud was a common term for someone who resists change or excitement.
Check yourself
1. What is a stick-in-the-mud?
Answer: Someone who avoids new things or fun. A stick-in-the-mud is a dull person who resists change or excitement.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Grandpa was a stick-in-the-mud about trying the new cafe.. Refusing to try something new is what a stick-in-the-mud does.
Similar idioms
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