1. Home
2. Idioms
3. stick by

stick by

---

---

stick by someone or something

 and stick with someone or something

to support someone or something; to continue supporting or committing to someone or something when things are bad. Don't worry. I'll stick by you no matter what. I feel as if I have to stick by my brother even if he goes to jail.

See also: stick

stick by somebody/something

to support someone or something stand by somebody/something He stuck by his earlier statements and never changed his story. She stuck by him through all the years of his illness.

See also: stick

stick by

Also, stick to. Remain loyal to, as in The brothers said they'd stick by one another, no matter what, or Phyllis promised to stick to Bert. This idiom derives from stick in the sense of "adhere." [Early 1500s] Also see stand by, def. 4.

See also: stick

stick by

v.

1. To remain loyal or faithful to someone: Her family stuck by her through hard times.

2. To keep or maintain something: He is sticking by his opinion despite the new evidence.

See also: stick