Word.ws English Dictionary

stand out like a sore thumb

stand out like a sore thumb is the alternative form of stick out like a sore thumb.

Meaning of stick out like a sore thumb

Verb

stick out like a sore thumb (third-person singular simple present sticks out like a sore thumb, present participle sticking out like a sore thumb, simple past and past participle stuck out like a sore thumb)

  1. (simile) To be very noticeably (and undesirably or humorously) different; to be prominently out of place; to be particularly obtrusive or conspicuous (usually unintentionally); to attract unwanted attention or notice.
    • Don't wear a business suit to that party; you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
    Antonyms:
    belong, blend in, fit, fit in

Forms of stand out like a sore thumb

third-person singular presentstands out like a sore thumb
present participlestanding out like a sore thumb
past participlestood out like a sore thumb
paststood out like a sore thumb

Questions about stand out like a sore thumb

What is stand out like a sore thumb the alternative form of?
Stand out like a sore thumb is the alternative form of stick out like a sore thumb.

Words near stand out like a sore thumb in the dictionary

  1. stand on velvet
  2. stand one's ground
  3. stand one's hand
  4. stand out
  5. stand out a mile
  6. stand out like a sore thumb
  7. stand out like dog's balls
  8. stand over
  9. stand pad
  10. stand pat
  11. stand pie

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: stand out like a sore thumb (page history and authors); stick out like a sore thumb (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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