stickup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “stickup” mean?
A robbery, typically at gunpoint, where a person or business is forced to hand over money or valuables.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A robbery, typically at gunpoint, where a person or business is forced to hand over money or valuables.
A command to raise one's hands (as in a robbery), or a sticky label or poster attached to a surface. The latter is a less common usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun sense as 'robbery' is understood but more common in American English. British English would more often use 'hold-up', 'armed robbery', or 'mugging'.
Connotations
In American English, it strongly connotes a specific type of armed robbery, often in a commercial establishment. In British English, it feels like an Americanism.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, low frequency in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “stickup” in a Sentence
[Agent] pulled a stickup at/of [Location].It was a stickup!A stickup occurred.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stickup” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gang planned to stick up a security van.
- He got arrested for sticking up a post office.
American English
- They tried to stick up the liquor store but were caught.
- He'd never stick up a place with customers inside.
adjective
British English
- He was a known stickup man in the East End.
- It had all the hallmarks of a stickup robbery.
American English
- The police were looking for the stickup crew.
- He described the suspect's stickup method.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Might appear in news reports about retail or banking crimes (e.g., 'The convenience store was hit by a stickup').
Academic
Unlikely, except in sociological or criminological studies of crime vernacular.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation about crime, especially in North America. Often heard in media (films, TV) depicting crime.
Technical
Not a technical legal term; law enforcement may use 'armed robbery' or 'aggravated robbery'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stickup”
- Using 'stickup' to mean a sticky note (that's 'Post-it note' or 'sticky note'). Confusing it with 'stick up for' (to defend).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal slang, primarily American. In formal contexts like news reports or legal documents, 'armed robbery' or 'hold-up' is preferred.
A 'stickup' typically implies an armed robbery of a business or person, often with a weapon visibly presented. A 'mugging' is a robbery or assault on an individual in a public place, which may or may not involve a weapon.
Yes, but it's informal. 'To stick up (a place)' means to rob it, usually at gunpoint (e.g., 'They stuck up a bank'). Don't confuse it with the phrasal verb 'stick up for' (to defend).
It originates from the robber's command 'Stick 'em up!' meaning 'put your hands up'. The noun form for the robbery itself developed from this command in early 20th century American slang.
A robbery, typically at gunpoint, where a person or business is forced to hand over money or valuables.
Stickup: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk ˌʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a stickup! (common command during robbery)”
- “stickup man/artist (robber)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a robber shouting "Stick 'em up!" (hands up) during a STICKUP. The phrase is the core of the crime.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS AN EVENT (a 'stickup' happens). Also, the command "stick 'em up" conceptualizes SUBMISSION AS VERTICAL MOVEMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern meaning of 'stickup'?