A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

stick it to someone • stick to someone
stick it to someone —(sl.) treat smb. badly or unfairly (over-
charge a person for services, etc.): I guess I looked as if I had
a lot of money and they decided to really stick it to me.
stick to someone —
1
. (also: stick with someone) remain loyal
to a person; stay close (in the face of danger, etc.): Just stick
to me and I’ll lead you out of here. 2. continue to use or
employ a person: We finally decided to stick to our present
supplier of ball bearings.
stick man • stickup man
stick man —
1
. a figure that is drawn to represent people: I
barely have the ability to draw a stick-man, so any semi-decent
painting is going to receive my admiration. 2. (U.S.) a casino
employee; a croupier: Then the stickman rakes in the dice,
picks them up, and tosses them back to the shooter. 3. (Under-
world) an accomplice of a thief: A man who is called a “stick-
man,” an accomplice of hers, comes to the bar…. If they have
by this time secured the booty, it is passed to the latter. 4.
(Underworld) a police patrol officer: The stick man is due here
in about three minutes. Hurry. 5. (U.S. Drug users) a smoker
start someone off on something
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of marijuana cigarettes: Ernie was a stick man till he started
being less particular.
stickup man —(Underworld) an armed robber; a mugger:
Any moron could get a gun and become a stickup man.
stick one’s nose out • stick one’s nose where it
doesn’t belong
stick one’s nose out—(coll.) go outside: I’ll just stick my nose
out to see if it’s raining.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase stick one’s neck out—(coll.) behave rashly; expose oneself
to danger, criticism, etc. (also: put one’s neck out): You don’t
have to stick your neck out, David — I’ll stick mine out. And
it’ll be a pleasure!
stick one’s nose where it doesn’t belong—(also: poke one’s nose
where it doesn’t belong ) meddle into the business of other peo-
ple: Occasionally he sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong,
which makes him, by definition, an investigative journalist.