Meaning trap
stick out
persist despite difficulty
To continue to endure or tolerate something challenging or unpleasant until it is finished, especially when it would be easier to quit.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To continue to endure or tolerate something challenging or unpleasant until it is finished, especially when it would be easier to quit.
'stick out' also has the more basic meaning 'to be very noticeable'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
She decided to stick out the final year of her contract, even though the job was extremely demanding.
Although the internship was challenging, I chose to stick it out because I knew the experience would benefit my future career.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I'll stick out it.
Say: I'll stick it out.
The object 'it' goes in the middle: 'stick it out'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Stick it out' is the idiomatic 'tough it out to the finish'; the formal version is laboured.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
stick it out
- till the end
- for now
- somehow
- a bit longer
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- stick out (to be very noticeable) — 'stick out' also has the more basic meaning 'to be very noticeable'; this is the advanced sense.