stuck
/stʌk/ (bre, ipa) · /stʌk/ (ame, ipa)
stuck — verb
1. the form of the verb 'stick' used to talk about something that happened in the p
the form of the verb 'stick' used to talk about something that happened in the past — for example, pushing something into a surface, attaching one thing to another, or remaining in a place or state.
Sora stuck a poster on his bedroom wall with blue tape.
stuck + object + on/against/to [surface]
The chef stuck a thermometer into the roast chicken to check its temperature.
stuck + object + into [something]
Owen stuck to his original plan even when everyone disagreed with him.
The old photograph had stuck to the glass frame after years of heat.
The children stuck together as they walked through the crowded market.
常見錯誤
stuck — adjective
1. not able to move away from a place, surface, or position because something is bl
not able to move away from a place, surface, or position because something is blocking, holding, or trapping you — for example, a car in deep mud, a drawer that will not open, or a person in a traffic jam.
The delivery van got stuck in a narrow alley and could not move.
get stuck in [place] — passive construction
Constanza tried to open the window, but it was completely stuck after years of disuse.
A piece of chewing gum was stuck under Diya's desk and would not come off.
The elevator stopped between floors, and Ilan was stuck inside for nearly an hour.
Hassan's bike wheel got stuck in a drain grate; he had to lift it free.
文法句型
be/get/become/feel stuck + preposition + [place or position]
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with a linking verb (be, get, become, feel, seem, remain) and is followed by a prepositional phrase showing where or how something is trapped.
常見錯誤
2. trapped in an unpleasant, boring, or hopeless situation that you cannot easily l
trapped in an unpleasant, boring, or hopeless situation that you cannot easily leave or change — for example, a job you hate, a troubled relationship, or a town with no opportunities.
Evelyn felt stuck in a job that demanded long hours without promotion.
feel stuck in [situation] — expressing emotional frustration
After ten years in one role, Mert knew he was stuck and needed a change.
The town's young people often feel stuck with no good jobs and nowhere to go.
Léa was stuck beside a talkative stranger for the whole bus ride.
The company got stuck with an outdated computer system that cost a fortune to replace.
- trapped
more dramatic; suggests a pressing need to escape
- marooned
more literary; suggests being isolated and abandoned
- stuck in a rut
idiomatic; specifically about a boring, unchanging routine
文法句型
be/get stuck in [unpleasant situation]
feel stuck in [situation]
用法筆記
Common in the phrase 'stuck in a rut' (a boring, repetitive way of life). This sense overlaps with sense 4 (STUCK WITH) when the situation involves an unwanted obligation, but sense 2 focuses on being stuck in a place or situation, while sense 4 focuses on being stuck with a person or thing.
常見錯誤
3. unable to continue making progress on a mental task — such as a question, puzzle
unable to continue making progress on a mental task — such as a question, puzzle, piece of reading, or creative work — because it is too difficult or confusing to move forward.
Dario got stuck on the last crossword clue for twenty minutes.
get stuck on [task] — typical pattern
Wei was stuck at a difficult maths problem and asked the teacher for help.
Aarav got stuck halfway through the novel because the plot became too confusing.
The programmer was stuck on a code bug for hours before fixing it.
When stuck on an exam question, move on and return to it later.
- unstuck
informal; making progress again after being blocked
文法句型
get stuck on [problem/question/task]
be stuck at [point in a task]
用法筆記
The preposition changes the focus: 'stuck on [something]' means the task itself is blocking you; 'stuck at [point]' means you have reached a specific point and cannot continue past it.
4. left having to cope with a person or situation you find disagreeable, typically
left having to cope with a person or situation you find disagreeable, typically because nobody else is willing to take over — for instance, doing a boring chore that others avoided, or keeping a faulty product you cannot send back.
Sora got stuck washing all the dishes after the party because everyone else left.
get stuck with [unwanted task] — informal pattern
Hassan's colleague quit suddenly, leaving him stuck with a huge pile of unfinished work.
The shop was stuck with winter coats that nobody wanted in spring.
Nobody wanted the seat next to the loud speaker, so Owen was stuck with it.
Buy a faulty phone at a market stall, and you could be stuck with it.
- saddled with
more formal; suggests a heavy burden or responsibility
- lumbered with
British informal; suggests being given something unwanted
- left with
neutral; simply states the result without the emotional tone
- relieved of
formal; having an unwanted thing removed from you
文法句型
be stuck with [someone/something unwanted]
get stuck with [task/responsibility]
用法筆記
The phrase 'stuck with' always has a negative or reluctant tone. It is common in informal spoken English. The subject is usually a person, but can be an organisation (a company, a school).