sting (redirected from stung)

sting someone for something

Sl. to cheat someone of a particular amount; to make someone pay for something. That guy stung me for twenty bucks! Toby was stung for the lunch bill.

sting someone with something

to use something to sting someone. The bee stung me with its stinger. The wasp can sting you with its poisonous barb.

---

a sting in the tail  (British & Australian)

an unpleasant end to something that began pleasantly, especially a story or suggestion At the start, it's humorous and light but like most of her short stories, there's a sting in the tail.

See also: tail

take the sting out of something

to make something that is unpleasant a little less unpleasant Humour, of course, can take the sting out of almost any unpleasant situation.

See also: out, take

---

take the sting out of something

to slightly improve something that is unpleasant It was a difficult loss, but the support of the fans really took the sting out of it.

See also: out, take