Word.ws English Dictionary

stuck out like a sore thumb

stuck out like a sore thumb is the simple past and past participle 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

Questions about stuck out like a sore thumb

What is stuck out like a sore thumb the simple past and past participle of?
Stuck out like a sore thumb is the simple past and past participle of stick out like a sore thumb.

Words near stuck out like a sore thumb in the dictionary

  1. stuck one's nose into
  2. stuck one's oar in
  3. stuck one's tongue out
  4. stuck out
  5. stuck out a mile
  6. stuck out like a sore thumb
  7. stuck out like dog's balls
  8. stuck pixel
  9. stuck pixels
  10. stuck record
  11. stuck records

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: stuck 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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