stitch up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal (especially for the 'betray' meaning); Neutral for the literal sewing meaning.
Quick answer
What does “stitch up” mean?
To mend or repair by sewing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To mend or repair by sewing; also, to betray or frame someone.
To settle or conclude something, often secretly or in a way that is unfair to others; to manipulate a situation to one's advantage, causing harm to someone else.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The metaphorical meaning ('to frame/betray') is significantly more common and established in British English. In American English, the phrase is more often understood literally, though the metaphorical sense is recognized.
Connotations
In UK: strongly associated with betrayal, conspiracy, and being wrongfully blamed. In US: primarily connotes mending or closing a wound.
Frequency
High frequency in UK informal speech; medium-low for metaphorical sense in US.
Grammar
How to Use “stitch up” in a Sentence
[Someone] stitches up [someone] (for [something])[Someone] gets stitched upstitch up [something] (e.g., a deal, a wound)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stitch up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rival faction tried to stitch him up for the missing funds.
- She quickly stitched up the tear in the tent.
American English
- The nurse will stitch up the laceration.
- I heard they tried to stitch up the deal last night. (understood but less common)
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic stitch-up job from the start.
- He had a stitched-up look about him after the fight. (slang for injured)
American English
- The stitched-up wound healed nicely.
- The contract was a stitched-up agreement. (rare)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'They stitched up the merger deal over a private dinner.' (UK: secretive/finalized; US: less common)
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis of dialogue.
Everyday
'Can you stitch up this hole in my pocket?' / 'I felt stitched up by my so-called friends.' (UK)
Technical
In medicine/surgery: 'The surgeon will stitch up the incision.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stitch up”
- Using 'stitch up' in formal US writing to mean 'frame'.
- Incorrect separation: 'stitch it up' is correct; 'stitch up it' is wrong.
- Confusing with 'stitch' (noun) meaning pain: 'I had a stitch in my side.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the literal sewing meaning is neutral/positive (mending). The negative connotation applies only to the metaphorical 'betrayal' meaning.
Yes, especially in British English. E.g., 'The trial was a complete stitch-up.'
They are very close synonyms in the 'frame/betray' sense. 'Stitch up' can imply a more elaborate, conspiratorial, or 'finalized' deception, often with false evidence.
Yes. You can say 'stitch up the deal' or 'stitch the deal up'. With pronouns, it must be separated: 'stitch it up'.
To mend or repair by sewing.
Stitch up is usually informal (especially for the 'betray' meaning); neutral for the literal sewing meaning. in register.
Stitch up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɪtʃ ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɪtʃ ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A stitch in time saves nine (related to the sewing concept, not the betrayal).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tailor sewing a sack shut WITH someone inside it — they are literally 'stitched up' and trapped. This links the literal and metaphorical meanings.
Conceptual Metaphor
BETRAYAL IS BEING SEWN INTO A TRAP / JUSTICE IS A FABRIC THAT CAN BE FALSELY MENDED.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the meaning 'to frame or betray someone' MOST common?