Stick in the Mud

stick in the mud Slang Feb 21 2008

Quote

“My character, Will, is a bit of a stick in the mud who goes on an adventure to find the girl of his dreams.”

- Actor Orlando Bloom on the unlikely hero of Pirates of the Caribbean. (Sneak Magazine)

Meaning

Someone who is boring, slow and not flexible

Use

A stick is a small branch of a tree. Picture one of those stuck in some mud. It would be rather hard to drag it through the mud, and if you tried to, you’d break it.

Now think of a person who would be sort of like that. A stick-in-the-mud is a really boring person who never wants to try something new. Your little brother who always ruins all your fun and cries whenever you take him somewhere is a stick-in-the-mud.

A lot of times, sticks-in-the-mud are people who have conservative, outdated beliefs that they refuse to give up.

Orlando Bloom’s character in Pirates of the Caribbean starts out as a stick-in-the-mud, but then he goes on a great adventure.
So, basically, you don’t want to be called a a stick-in-the-mud. But as long as you are a fun person, no one will think you’re a stick-in-the-mud. And if your friends don’t want to go out with you, you can call them sticks-in-the-mud!

Examples

””My grandparents are sticks in the mud.”
“Don’t be a stick in the mud. Come out with us!”
“You never want to do anything new. You are an old stick in the mud.” “

Grammar Point

Don’t forget that the expression A stick-in-the-mud is quite different from stick up for yourself. Stick up for yourself next time your fun is ruined by a stick-in-the-mud!