1. Home
2. Idioms
3. sticky

sticky

---

---

be in a sticky situation

To be in the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward, embarrassing, precarious, or difficult situation or circumstance. I knew I was in a sticky situation when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the movies. I'll be in quite a sticky situation if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: situation, sticky

in a sticky situation

In the midst of a particularly awkward, embarrassing, precarious, or difficult situation or circumstance. I found myself in a bit of a sticky situation when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the movies. I'll be in quite a sticky situation if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: situation, sticky

a sticky situation

A particularly awkward, embarrassing, precarious, or difficult situation or circumstance. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself in a bit of a sticky situation when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the movies. I'll be in quite a sticky situation if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: situation, sticky

a sticky wicket

A particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. (Generally used with on. Refers to the pitch, i.e., wicket, used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself on a bit of a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: sticky, wicket

batting on a sticky wicket

In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself batting on a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: batting, on, sticky, wicket

on a sticky wicket

In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. (Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself on a bit of a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!

See also: on, sticky, wicket

have sticky fingers

Fig. to have a tendency to steal. The clerk—who had sticky fingers—got fired. The little boy had sticky fingers and was always taking his father's small change.

See also: finger, have, sticky

be (batting) on a sticky wicket

  (British & Australian)

to be in a difficult situation because you have not behaved in the correct way You know you're batting on a sticky wicket there, not paying tax.

See also: on, sticky, wicket

come to a sticky end

  (British & Australian humorous) also meet a sticky end (British & Australian humorous)

to die in an unpleasant way Of course the villain comes to a sticky end in the last act of the play.

See also: come, end, sticky

have sticky fingers

someone who has sticky fingers often steals things Another wallet has been stolen, so it looks as though someone in the office has sticky fingers.

See also: finger, have, sticky

sticky fingers

A propensity to steal, as in You'd better not leave any cash around; she's known for her sticky fingers. This metaphor makes it seem as if valuables adhere naturally to a thief's fingers. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

See also: finger, sticky

sticky

1. mod. gooey. (Standard English.) What is this sticky stuff on my shoe? Oh, no!

2. mod. chancy; awkward. Things began to get a little sticky, and Marlowe began to move toward the door.

3. mod. sentimental. Things were getting a little sticky the more Harriet drank. She tried to kiss me, and I left.

4. mod. having to do with hot and humid weather. I can’t take another sticky day like this.

sticky fingers

n. a tendency to steal. Watch these young kids with sticky fingers who come in here “just looking.”

See also: finger, sticky